Pourers and casters, metal

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

Pourers and Casters, Metal: Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.

Earnings for machine operators can vary by size of the company, union or nonunion status, industry, and skill level and experience of the operator. Also, temporary employees, who are being hired in greater numbers, usually get paid less than company-employed workers. The median hourly earnings in 2002 for a variety of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic were as follows:

Model makers, metal and plastic	$18.27
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	16.09
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	14.79
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	14.79
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.55
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	14.14
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	14.04
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.79
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.62
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.56
Pourers and casters, metal	13.40
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	13.23
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.64
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.56
Foundry mold and coremakers	12.55
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.44
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	12.22
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.81
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	11.17
All other metal workers and plastic workers	13.65

Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic held about 1.3 million jobs in 2002. Approximately 9 of 10 jobs were found in manufacturing. About 38 percent of all employment was in these manufacturing industries: transportation equipment manufacturing, plastics and rubber products manufacturing, and machinery manufacturing. The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment of machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic by detailed occupation.

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	283,000
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	151,000
Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	104,000
Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	99,000
Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	98,000
Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	75,000
Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	53,000
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	45,000
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Plating and coating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	44,000
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	31,000
Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	29,000
Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners	26,000
Foundry mold and coremakers	23,000
Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders	18,000
Pourers and casters, metal	13,000
Lay-out workers, metal and plastic	13,000
Model makers, metal and plastic	8,500
Patternmakers, metal and plastic	6,500
All other metal workers and plastic workers	104,000

(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machine setters, operators, and tenders—metal and plastic)

See more recent statistics for employed workers below.

November 2004 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers

National, State, and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Earnings

Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin
State maximums: employment earnings: mean 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th
Metro maximums: employment earnings: mean 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th

Pourers and casters, metal
	Percentile annual earnings, $
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
National
U.S. employment: 14,120 mean earnings: $30,690	19,820	23,910	29,000	35,600	44,230
State and Metro Area
Alabama (ACS) (EAG) employment: 560 mean earnings: $27,330	17,800	22,200	26,560	31,500	37,530
Anniston, AL employment: 50 mean earnings: $27,030	23,250	24,480	26,200	27,920	33,790
Birmingham, AL employment: 110 mean earnings: $34,830	23,260	26,860	33,390	42,090	51,610
Montgomery, AL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,630	25,220	26,660	28,920	32,120	36,490
Arizona (ACS) (EAG) employment: 80 mean earnings: $26,400	16,760	23,110	26,430	31,040	34,580
Phoenix - Mesa, AZ employment: 60 mean earnings: $27,430	22,580	24,150	26,900	31,050	34,180
Arkansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 340 mean earnings: $33,490	24,940	28,020	31,470	37,710	46,030
California (ACS) (EAG) employment: 560 mean earnings: $25,610	16,860	19,810	24,900	30,890	35,540
Los Angeles - Long Beach, CA employment: 230 mean earnings: $23,830	16,070	18,660	23,390	28,400	32,630
Oakland, CA employment: 50 mean earnings: $28,850	19,200	21,110	29,490	33,930	38,690
Orange County, CA employment: 40 mean earnings: $28,380	19,710	23,090	27,530	33,980	40,030
Riverside - San Bernardino, CA employment: 90 mean earnings: $26,300	16,500	18,400	21,800	35,470	40,170
San Diego, CA employment: 30 mean earnings: $26,840	18,600	23,970	27,320	31,360	34,360
Colorado (ACS) (EAG) employment: 90 mean earnings: $31,750	16,560	19,700	25,770	39,930	61,810
Denver, CO employment: 40 mean earnings: $23,430	16,810	19,470	22,210	26,610	29,290
Connecticut (ACS) (EAG) employment: 60 mean earnings: $34,440	25,160	30,310	34,520	40,190	43,950
Florida (ACS) (EAG) employment: 100 mean earnings: $23,590	16,030	18,780	22,600	26,740	32,580
Georgia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 160 mean earnings: $25,070	18,910	20,430	23,370	28,260	33,520
Idaho (ACS) (EAG) employment: 60 mean earnings: $23,980	15,720	20,860	24,790	27,450	31,510
Illinois (ACS) (EAG) employment: 640 mean earnings: $33,450	18,500	23,650	31,970	43,150	52,690
Chicago, IL employment: 330 mean earnings: $27,930	16,670	20,650	26,670	33,310	42,220
Peoria - Pekin, IL employment: n.a. mean earnings: $40,400	30,850	34,520	39,810	45,560	53,190
Indiana (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,550 mean earnings: $36,190	23,430	26,260	32,060	41,880	57,560
Fort Wayne, IN employment: 200 mean earnings: $36,010	21,890	26,040	34,830	43,790	55,270
Gary, IN employment: 410 mean earnings: $42,250	24,660	27,090	33,070	55,860	75,450
Iowa (ACS) (EAG) employment: 240 mean earnings: $25,840	18,900	21,020	24,740	28,640	35,200
Kansas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 120 mean earnings: $24,970	17,190	19,380	22,230	29,270	40,070
Kentucky (ACS) (EAG) employment: 220 mean earnings: $32,800	26,410	30,620	33,280	35,930	39,600
Louisiana (ACS) (EAG) Occupational Outlook Handbook employment: 110 mean earnings: $29,010	19,700	23,870	28,180	34,100	42,110
Massachusetts (ACS) (EAG) employment: 140 mean earnings: $31,070	24,300	26,950	30,820	35,240	39,070
Boston, MA - NH employment: 30 mean earnings: $33,460	25,790	30,050	33,330	36,660	41,740
Michigan (ACS) (EAG) employment: 890 mean earnings: $28,550	22,250	24,600	27,220	31,700	37,000
Detroit, MI employment: n.a. mean earnings: $27,760	20,030	23,200	26,040	30,030	35,700
Grand Rapids - Muskegon - Holland, MI Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 260 mean earnings: $27,990	22,900	25,210	27,800	30,760	34,890
Minnesota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 290 mean earnings: $33,170	24,100	29,720	33,190	36,980	42,740
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN - WI employment: 200 mean earnings: $35,090	27,910	30,870	34,340	39,290	44,170
Mississippi (ACS) (EAG) employment: 80 mean earnings: $24,280	18,780	21,190	24,100	26,520	27,970
Missouri (ACS) (EAG) employment: 440 mean earnings: $25,510	19,920	22,200	25,290	28,110	30,330
St. Louis, MO - IL employment: 380 mean earnings: $31,230	20,500	22,760	26,890	34,960	52,730
Nebraska (ACS) (EAG) employment: 60 mean earnings: $27,960	21,700	24,460	27,470	31,800	35,410
New Hampshire (ACS) (EAG) employment: 90 mean earnings: $30,820	24,230	27,130	30,590	34,290	37,120
Nashua, NH employment: 50 mean earnings: $29,530	24,450	26,790	29,780	33,160	35,370
New Jersey (ACS) (EAG) employment: 210 mean earnings: $35,030	22,890	25,470	32,770	47,310	54,770
Newark, NJ employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,350	22,410	23,520	25,700	28,010	50,770
New York (ACS) (EAG) employment: 470 mean earnings: $33,040	18,730	23,450	32,060	42,220	51,240
New York, NY employment: 40 mean earnings: $25,080	16,480	19,360	23,310	28,590	37,790
North Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 210 mean earnings: $28,650	17,460	19,850	23,960	37,790	46,280
Charlotte - Gastonia - Rock Hill, NC - SC employment: 50 mean earnings: $38,810	19,470	31,110	38,130	50,600	54,250
Greensboro - - Winston - Salem - - High Point, NC employment: 100 mean earnings: $22,160	16,400	18,130	21,660	25,430	30,120
Ohio (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,360 mean earnings: $33,190	23,060	25,800	31,020	38,410	48,500
Cincinnati, OH - KY - IN employment: 140 mean earnings: $29,630	22,630	25,210	29,510	34,380	37,680
Cleveland - Lorain - Elyria, OH employment: 240 mean earnings: $35,380	21,720	26,930	33,860	43,270	52,700
Columbus, OH employment: n.a. mean earnings: $29,760	20,560	24,320	29,420	35,130	40,610
Oklahoma (ACS) (EAG) employment: 80 mean earnings: $31,180	19,420	22,880	28,070	40,570	44,410
Tulsa, OK employment: 50 mean earnings: $37,020	22,650	33,670	39,700	43,330	45,520
Pennsylvania (ACS) (EAG) employment: 1,430 mean earnings: $30,010	20,320	24,040	29,330	34,480	41,980
Erie, PA employment: 60 mean earnings: $23,520	15,040	16,220	19,090	28,900	36,940
Johnstown, PA employment: 40 mean earnings: $28,340	21,780	24,150	27,320	32,760	36,120
Lancaster, PA employment: 70 mean earnings: $28,960	20,730	23,540	28,320	33,070	39,270
Philadelphia, PA - NJ employment: n.a. mean earnings: $33,900	25,410	30,730	33,570	36,520	43,870
Pittsburgh, PA employment: 530 mean earnings: $27,820	20,170	22,750	27,810	32,520	36,220
Reading, PA Occupational Outlook Handbookemployment: 90 mean earnings: $34,500	17,810	30,050	35,090	41,490	49,720
York, PA employment: 100 mean earnings: $24,050	19,370	20,520	22,440	26,540	32,100
Rhode Island (ACS) (EAG) employment: 150 mean earnings: $22,240	17,100	19,090	20,990	23,260	31,020
South Carolina (ACS) (EAG) employment: 180 mean earnings: $36,280	23,970	31,140	38,340	42,200	44,520
Charleston - North Charleston, SC employment: 120 mean earnings: $40,960	36,740	38,290	40,890	43,490	45,550
South Dakota (ACS) (EAG) employment: 40 mean earnings: $22,530	18,760	19,980	21,810	24,560	27,730
Tennessee (ACS) (EAG) employment: 230 mean earnings: $28,680	20,560	24,710	29,930	33,220	35,240
Chattanooga, TN - GA employment: 50 mean earnings: $29,590	24,870	27,470	30,010	32,800	34,600
Texas (ACS) (EAG) employment: 940 mean earnings: $29,300	16,830	20,650	28,270	37,090	42,640
Dallas, TX employment: 80 mean earnings: $26,240	15,330	17,130	24,050	34,150	41,090
Fort Worth - Arlington, TX employment: 40 mean earnings: $19,930	15,380	17,400	19,740	21,770	24,980
Houston, TX employment: 90 mean earnings: $19,440	14,330	15,810	18,010	21,890	27,320
Utah (ACS) (EAG) employment: 120 mean earnings: $24,110	18,880	20,730	23,780	27,040	31,140
Salt Lake City - Ogden, UT employment: n.a. mean earnings: $23,800	18,810	20,340	22,980	26,780	31,310
Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 110 mean earnings: $31,220	22,280	26,700	31,630	35,520	41,400
Washington (ACS) (EAG) employment: 250 mean earnings: $31,110	21,070	24,800	28,850	36,330	44,510
Spokane, WA employment: n.a. mean earnings: $26,690	20,090	22,860	25,750	28,450	36,320
West Virginia (ACS) (EAG) employment: 110 mean earnings: $26,460	17,740	21,390	25,880	31,460	35,740
Wisconsin (ACS) (EAG) employment: 880 mean earnings: $31,310	22,050	26,310	31,140	36,340	42,800
Milwaukee - Waukesha, WI employment: 450 mean earnings: $30,200	20,620	25,340	30,060	34,940	41,690

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates

The highlighted text indicates the maximum values in each column among the states and metropolitan areas.

The (ACS) links lead to data from the American Community Survey from the Census Bureau.

The (EAG) links lead to U.S. Economy at a Glance data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.