Prevailing Wage for Pourers and Casters, Metal
Prevailing wage for Pourers and Casters, Metal (SOC 51-4052) is set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer is for a Caster, Casting Machine Operator, or Die Casting Machine Operator, the floor shifts across four experience levels and varies significantly by worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level Casters with limited experience performing routine pouring and casting tasks under close supervision. Workers at this stage follow established procedures with minimal independent judgment and typically have no prior formal training in metal casting operations.
Level 2 applies to qualified Casting Machine Operators with moderate experience who work with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Pourers and Casters, Metal, reflecting journeyman-level skill in regulating molten metal flow and operating standard casting equipment.
Level 3 covers experienced Die Casting Machine Operators who handle complex assignments, troubleshoot equipment issues, and may guide junior workers. DOL expects demonstrated mastery of multiple casting processes and the ability to work with minimal oversight on varied production tasks.
Level 4 reflects fully competent senior casters in lead or specialist roles, setting procedures, training others, and accountable for production quality. Employers filing at this level typically document supervisory responsibility or deep specialization in a specific casting method such as direct chill or die casting.
Prevailing Wage for Pourers and Casters, Metal by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Confirm your worksite city before accepting
Prevailing wage for metal casting roles is tied to the LCA worksite, not the employer headquarters. Foundries and casting facilities in Boston or Chicago carry significantly higher floors than those in Killeen, TX or Lancaster, PA, so verify the specific production site location.
Watch for title mismatches that skip this SOC
Employers sometimes classify Die Casting Machine Operators or DC Casters under production technician or equipment operator titles mapped to a different SOC code, which can result in a lower prevailing wage floor than SOC 51-4052 requires for your actual duties.
Exclude shift differentials from base wage comparison
Metal casting work often includes shift premiums for night or weekend production runs. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only the base hourly wage, not shift differentials or production bonuses, so compare the base offer rate against the applicable level floor.
Find employers that have sponsored Casters before
Migrate Mate filters jobs by visa type and shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring Pourers and Casters, Metal, so you can prioritize foundries and metal manufacturers with proven H-1B or green card sponsorship records rather than starting from scratch.
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Find Jobs for Pourers and Casters, MetalPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4052.00 alongside Pourers and Casters, Metal, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Caster Prevailing Wage
Caster Prevailing Wage
Caster positions fall under SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Casting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Casting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Casting Machine Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Casting Operator Prevailing Wage
Casting Operator Prevailing Wage
Casting Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
DC Caster (Direct Chill Caster) Prevailing Wage
DC Caster (Direct Chill Caster) Prevailing Wage
DC Caster (Direct Chill Caster) positions fall under SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Die Cast Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Die Cast Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Die Cast Machine Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Die Casting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Die Casting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Die Casting Machine Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Iron Pourer Prevailing Wage
Iron Pourer Prevailing Wage
Iron Pourer positions fall under SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Melter Prevailing Wage
Melter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Melter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Metal Handler Prevailing Wage
Metal Handler Prevailing Wage
Metal Handler is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pourer Prevailing Wage
Pourer Prevailing Wage
Pourer positions fall under SOC 51-4052.00 (Pourers and Casters, Metal). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Pourers and Casters, Metal?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish four wage levels for SOC 51-4052 in each surveyed metropolitan area. OFLC publishes these figures annually. Employers sponsoring a Caster or Casting Machine Operator for an H-1B or permanent residence must pay at least the level that matches the worker's experience and job duties at the specific worksite.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with routine tasks under close supervision, Level 2 as qualified with moderate independence, Level 3 as experienced with complex duties and some lead responsibility, and Level 4 as fully competent in a senior or specialist capacity. Your level is determined by the actual duties in the job description, not your years of experience alone. USCIS and OFLC both scrutinize whether the assigned level genuinely reflects the position.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same casting role vary so much between cities?
OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys, so prevailing wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. The LCA requires employers to use the wage for the actual worksite metropolitan area, not company headquarters. High-concentration manufacturing hubs like Chicago carry higher floors because local survey data captures a denser, better-compensated workforce than smaller markets or lower-cost regions.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An offer below the DOL prevailing wage for the filed level means the LCA cannot be certified by OFLC, which blocks the H-1B petition or PERM application entirely. If an employer files anyway with an inaccurate wage, they face back-pay liability, debarment from future sponsorship, and civil money penalties. USCIS will deny a petition where the certified LCA wage does not match the actual offered salary.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Pourers and Casters, Metal in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-4052 by metropolitan area and experience level. Select the most recent survey year and enter the worksite city to see the four level wages published by DOL. You can also cross-reference O*NET for occupation details. Migrate Mate lists employers with a history of sponsoring this role, letting you identify which companies have actively filed in specific metro markets.
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