Foundry Laborer
Impact: Production efficiency, Quality control
Forms wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries, performing tasks that involve physical labor and attention to detail.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Minimal
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Never
- Impact visibility
- Low
- Travel
- None
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $40,000
- Entry-level
- $30,000 - $35,000
- Senior
- $55,000+
- Growth by 2033
- -5% (decline)
- Demand
- Declining
- Freelance potential
- None
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate to 60-80% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- Minimal
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Mold Making
- Core Setting
- Material Handling
- Quality Inspection
- Machine Operation
- Tool Usage
Soft skills
- Attention to Detail
- Physical Stamina
- Following Instructions
- Problem Solving
- Teamwork
- Safety Consciousness
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Hard
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Foundry Laborer
- Skilled Molder
- Foundry Technician
- Supervisor
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 60% to high risk for repetitive tasks, but some manual dexterity and problem-solving remain.
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Declining
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 2.8/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3/10
- Prestige
- 3.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate