How much does a metal casting operator make?
a year · about $21 an hour
A typical metal casting operator in the United States makes $44,350 a year, about $21 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read job instructions, set a machine’s temperature and speed, and watch gauges as it shapes parts in a mold. Between runs, they clean the mold and machine so the next part can be made correctly.
Did you know? The American Foundry Society says you’re rarely more than 10 feet from a metal casting in the US—one may be in a nearby car, pipe, or appliance.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $34,170 and $61,600How do you become one?
In the US, a high school diploma is the usual starting point, followed by hands-on training at the factory. Training can take a few months to about a year, depending on how complex the machine is.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the US, experience, in-demand skills, and useful certifications can affect pay; it can also differ by employer, factory type, and location. Some factories run evening or weekend shifts or longer weeks, so hours worked can change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Minnesota ($49,590), lowest in Florida ($38,440).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $34,170 | $44,350 | $61,600 | about 150,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $49,590 | about 2,000 |
| Nebraska | $48,500 | about 1,000 |
| Washington | $48,290 | about 2,000 |
| Colorado | $48,200 | about 2,000 |
| New Hampshire | $47,610 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/51-4072.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes514072.htm
- www.afsinc.org/about-metalcasting
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY