Pourers and casters, metal
SOC Code: 51-4052
Pourers and casters, metal carries a 27% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $48,940 and -4.7% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 5,900 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Pourers and casters, metal (SOC 51-4052) carries an AI exposure score of 27%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 5,900 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -4.7% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $48,940, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Pourers and casters, metal. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms.
- 2. Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications.
- 3. Remove solidified steel or slag from pouring nozzles, using long bars or oxygen burners.
- 4. Assemble and embed cores in casting frames, using hand tools and equipment.
- 5. Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated.
- 6. Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.
- 7. Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal.
- 8. Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.
- 9. Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights.
- 10. Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.
Key Skills Required
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Coordination
- Quality Control Analysis
- Time Management
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge Areas
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Chemistry
- Engineering and Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Pourers and casters, metal?
Pourers and casters, metal has an AI exposure score of 27%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Pourers and casters, metal?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Pourers and casters, metal is projected to decline by 4.7% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 5,900 workers.
What skills are needed for Pourers and casters, metal?
Key skills for Pourers and casters, metal include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Pourers and casters, metal earn?
The median annual wage for Pourers and casters, metal is $48,940, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Pourers and casters, metal?
The typical entry-level education for Pourers and casters, metal is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Pourers and casters, metal?
Pourers and casters, metal roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).