How much does a metal caster make?
Answer: A typical metal caster in the United States makes $51,810 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 5,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Metal caster pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $38,480 | $51,810 | $72,040 | about 5,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | $61,430 | about 530 |
| Texas | $52,100 | about 500 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., metal casters with more experience and stronger skills may earn more. Pay also varies by region and employer: foundries, steel mills, and other metal producers do not all pay alike.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a metal caster do?
Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
What's a typical day like?
They check molds, load metal into a furnace, watch gauges, then use a ladle or machine to pour it. In protective gear, they skim off waste, check samples, and move castings in a hot, noisy plant.
How to get this job
In the U.S., people usually finish high school or earn a GED, then apply for foundry work and learn on the job; training can take a few days to a year. O*NET gives no standard starting age.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
The American Foundry Society says most people are rarely more than 10 feet from a casting—so one may be surprisingly close!
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4052.00
- www.onetonline.org/skills/zone/51-4052.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes514052.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.afsinc.org/about-metalcasting
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY