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Cast metal manufacturing and forging workers

How to become a Foundry Worker

Also called: Metal pipe caster, Casting equipment operator, Metal pipe casting equipment operator, Moulding machine operator

Melts metal, pours it into moulds, takes it out once it has cooled and hardened, and finishes it into cast metal products.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start. People usually go into this job straight after finishing high school or similar. There is also mid-career recruitment from other jobs. New school leavers usually find jobs through their school or Hello Work (public employment service), and mid-career hires through Hello Work and job advertisements. After joining, in sand casting you usually start by helping with sand preparation and moulding and learn the work gradually. Local foundry associations run training courses. Casting equipment operators also learn the work on the job. Related qualifications include the foundry technician and metal melting technician grades of the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which are valued as proof of skill. An interest in the techniques of casting, shaping metal by pouring it into moulds, is important. Because the workplace involves fire and very hot metal, you need care, attention to safety and concentration to avoid burns and injuries.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Foundry Worker?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. People usually go into this job straight after finishing high school or similar. There is also mid-career recruitment from other jobs. New school leavers usually find jobs through their school or Hello Work (public employment service), and mid-career hires through Hello Work and job advertisements. After joining, in sand casting you usually start by helping with sand preparation and moulding and learn the work gradually. Local foundry associations run training courses. Casting equipment operators also learn the work on the job. Related qualifications include the foundry technician and metal melting technician grades of the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which are valued as proof of skill. An interest in the techniques of casting, shaping metal by pouring it into moulds, is important. Because the workplace involves fire and very hot metal, you need care, attention to safety and concentration to avoid burns and injuries.

How much does a Foundry Worker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,074,900 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Cast metal manufacturing and forging workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Foundry Worker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 10% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Foundry Worker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026