Foundry Technician

Impact: Tangible Product Creation

Operates and maintains foundry equipment to cast metal products. This includes preparing molds, melting and pouring metal, and finishing castings. Ensures quality control and adherence to safety standards in a manufacturing environment.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Minimal
Team vs solo
Balanced
Client facing
Never
Impact visibility
Moderate
Travel
None
Schedule flexibility
Rigid
Remote work
On-site Only
Typical work hours
40
Stress level
Moderate

At a glance

Median salary
$52,000
Entry-level
$38,000
Senior
$70,000
Growth by 2033
2%
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
Low
Salary growth potential
Medium
Typical student debt
$10,000 - $25,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • Foundry Operations
  • Metal Casting
  • Quality Control
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Blueprint Reading

Soft skills

  • Attention to Detail
  • Problem-Solving
  • Safety Consciousness
  • Manual Dexterity
  • Teamwork

Technical complexity: Moderate

How to get there

Minimum education
High School Diploma or GED; some vocational training or associate's degree preferred
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
5
Years to senior
10
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

    Where you can go from here

      Typical progression

      1. Foundry Technician
      2. Lead Technician
      3. Foundry Supervisor
      4. Production Manager

      Future outlook

      Automation probability
      Medium
      AI disruption risk
      Low
      Demand trend
      Stable

      How people feel about it

      Overall satisfaction
      3.5/10
      Meaning
      3.5/10
      Work-life balance
      3.5/10
      Prestige
      4.5/10
      Social perception
      Moderate

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