What Does a Metal Pourer Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a metal pourer do?

Pourers and casters, metal, operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots. The median pay is $51,810 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few months on the job, and employment is projected to grow -5.0% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$51,810
$24.91/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-5.0%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
400
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
BLS classification
Time to train
A few months on the job
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
4,600
Employment, 2025

What metal pourers do

Metal pourers fill molds with molten metal. They handle ladles, pour at the right speed and temperature, skim slag, fill molds without defects and help shake out finished castings in foundries.

A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical. It is a small occupation, and BLS projects decline.

Typical duties

Pour molten metal
Control pour rate
Skim slag
Check temperature
Fill molds
Shake out castings
Maintain ladles

Work environment and schedule

Pourers work in hot, dusty foundries.

Schedule: Full time, often shifts.

A day in the life

6:00 AMInspect ladles.
6:30 AMPreheat the ladle.
7:30 AMCheck metal temperature.
8:00 AMPour molds on the line.

See a full day in the life of a metal pourer →

Metal Pourer salary

Half of metal pourers earned more than $51,810 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $38,480 for the lowest 10% to $72,040 for the top 10%.

$38,48010th$51,810Median$72,04090th

Full metal pourer pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a metal pourer

Finish high school
Get hired at a foundry
Learn pouring
Become a pourer
Advance

A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a metal pourer →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Pouring technique
Ladle handling
Temperature checks
Slag removal
Crane use

People skills

Steadiness
Safety focus
Teamwork
Focus

All metal pourer skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Skilled craft
No degree needed
Industrial pay
Teamwork

Cons

Extreme heat
Molten metal hazards
Declining employment
Dust

Certifications and licenses

Molten metal safety: Employer.
Crane training: Helpful.
OSHA 10: Safety.
AFS training: American Foundry Society.

Career path

Foundry Laborer: Entry.
Pourer: Pour.
Lead Pourer: Lead.
Foundry Supervisor: Lead.

Learn the job before day one

Our Metal Pourer training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as pour a sand mold without defects and preheat a ladle, safety and how to land your first job.

View Metal Pourer training Is this career right for me?

Metal Furnace Operator

Run furnaces that melt and refine metal in mills and foundries.

$54,430
A few months on the job

Foundry Moldmaker

Build sand molds and cores that shape metal castings.

$48,110
A few months on the job

Molding Machine Operator

Run injection molding and die casting machines that make plastic and metal parts.

$44,350
A few months on the job

Metal Patternmaker

Make the patterns foundries use to form casting molds.

$58,000
Months to years of training

Compare: Metal Pourer vs. Metal Furnace Operator · Metal Pourer vs. Foundry Moldmaker · Metal Pourer vs. Molding Machine Operator · Metal Pourer vs. Metal Patternmaker

Metal Pourer FAQ

Is pouring dangerous?

Yes, it has serious hazards with strict rules.

Do I need a degree?

No.

Is the job declining?

BLS projects decline.

How much does a metal pourer make?

The median annual wage for metal pourers was $51,810 ($24.91 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $38,480 and the highest 10% earned more than $72,040.

How long does it take to become a metal pourer?

Most people need about A few months on the job of training. A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.

Do you need a degree to be a metal pourer?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-4052 (Pourers and casters, metal).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Pourers and casters, metal (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Metal Pourer