Pourers and Casters, Metal
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-4052.00
Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.26
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
16 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.O*NET Task ID 12006 | 0.0 |
Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms.O*NET Task ID 12007 | 0.0 |
Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications.O*NET Task ID 12008 | 0.0 |
Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated.O*NET Task ID 12009 | 0.0 |
Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.O*NET Task ID 12010 | 0.0 |
Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling.O*NET Task ID 12011 | 0.0 |
Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal.O*NET Task ID 12012 | 0.0 |
Add metal to molds to compensate for shrinkage.O*NET Task ID 12013 | 0.0 |
Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights.O*NET Task ID 12014 | 0.0 |
Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.O*NET Task ID 12015 | 0.0 |
Remove solidified steel or slag from pouring nozzles, using long bars or oxygen burners.O*NET Task ID 12016 | 0.0 |
Assemble and embed cores in casting frames, using hand tools and equipment.O*NET Task ID 12017 | 0.0 |
Remove metal ingots or cores from molds, using hand tools, cranes, and chain hoists.O*NET Task ID 12018 | 0.0 |
Transport metal ingots to storage areas, using forklifts.O*NET Task ID 12019 | 0.0 |
Stencil identifying information on ingots and pigs, using special hand tools.O*NET Task ID 12020 | 0.0 |
Repair and maintain metal forms and equipment, using hand tools, sledges, and bars.O*NET Task ID 12021 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (16)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis. | Core |
| Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms. | Core |
| Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications. | Core |
| Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated. | Core |
| Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment. | Core |
| Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling. | Core |
| Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles. | Core |
| Remove solidified steel or slag from pouring nozzles, using long bars or oxygen burners. | Core |
| Transport metal ingots to storage areas, using forklifts. | Core |
| Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal. | Supplemental |
| Add metal to molds to compensate for shrinkage. | Supplemental |
| Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights. | Supplemental |
| Assemble and embed cores in casting frames, using hand tools and equipment. | Supplemental |
| Remove metal ingots or cores from molds, using hand tools, cranes, and chain hoists. | Supplemental |
| Stencil identifying information on ingots and pigs, using special hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Repair and maintain metal forms and equipment, using hand tools, sledges, and bars. | Supplemental |
1.31/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis. | E2 structured facilities |
| Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications. | E2 structured facilities |
| Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling. | E2 structured facilities |
| Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles. | E2 structured facilities |
| Remove solidified steel or slag from pouring nozzles, using long bars or oxygen burners. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Transport metal ingots to storage areas, using forklifts. | E2 structured facilities |
| Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal. | E2 structured facilities |
| Add metal to molds to compensate for shrinkage. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Assemble and embed cores in casting frames, using hand tools and equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove metal ingots or cores from molds, using hand tools, cranes, and chain hoists. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Stencil identifying information on ingots and pigs, using special hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Repair and maintain metal forms and equipment, using hand tools, sledges, and bars. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 5K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 4K
- Change (2025–35)
- -5%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $51,810
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74023 | 금속 주입원 | Same scope | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8121Metal Processing Plant Operators
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- foundry operativeESCO 7211.1Same scope
Foundry operative manufacture castings, including pipes, tubes, hollow profiles and other products of the first processing of steel, by operating hand-controlled equipment in a foundry. They conduct the flow of molten ferrous and non-ferrous metals into moulds, taking care to create the exact right circumstances to obtain the highest quality metal. They observe the flow of metal to identify faults. In case of a fault, they notify the authorised personnel and participate in the removal of the fault.
- coquille casting workerESCO 7211.1.1This occupation is broader
Coquille casting workers manufacture castings, including pipes, tubes, hollow profiles and other products of the first processing of steel, by operating hand-controlled equipment in a foundry. They conduct the flow of molten ferrous and non-ferrous metals into coquilles, taking care to create the exact right circumstances to obtain the highest quality metal. They observe the flow of metal to identify faults. In case of a fault, they notify the authorised personnel and participate in the removal of the fault.
- casting machine operatorESCO 8121.1Overlapping, not the same
Casting machine operators operate casting machines to manipulate metal substances into shape. They set up and tend casting machines to process molten ferrous and non-ferrous metals to manufacture metal materials. They conduct the flow of molten metals into casts, taking care to create the exact right circumstances to obtain the highest quality metal. They observe the flow of metal to identify faults. In case of a fault, they notify the authorised personnel and participate in the removal of the fault.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2907 | Fondeur / Fondeuse en métallurgie | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| H2922 | Fondeur / Fondeuse en métaux précieux | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8121 | Operadores en instalaciones para la obtención y transformación de metales | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 7311 | Moldeadores y macheros | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 24132 | Berufe in der industriellen Gießerei - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 24112 | Berufe in der Hüttentechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 522 | 鋳物製造・鍛造従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 521 | 製銑・製鋼・非鉄金属製錬従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources