Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
Production Occupations · 150K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$44,350
Median hourly
$21
Average annual
$45,960
Typical range
$34,170–$61,600
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $44,350 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $21 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products..
Most earn between $34,170 and $61,600 a year. There are roughly 150K people employed as molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
- Hourly
- $21.32
- Daily
- $171
- Weekly
- $853
- Bi-weekly
- $1,706
- Monthly
- $3,696
- Annual
- $44,350
$44,350 a year is around the 50th percentile for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics. The median is $44,350.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Hawaii$77,560
- 2Maryland$63,460
- 3Maine$59,230
- 4Minnesota$49,590
- 5Nevada$49,590
- 6Nebraska$48,500
- 7Washington$48,290
- 8Colorado$48,200
- 9North Dakota$47,780
- 10New Hampshire$47,610
- 11California$47,240
- 12Kentucky$47,110
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Urban Honolulu, HI$77,560
- 2Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$74,650
- 3Saginaw, MI$74,130
- 4Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$66,540
- 5Portland-South Portland, ME$62,690
- 6Evansville, IN$61,160
- 7Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$60,430
- 8Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$58,730
- 9Peoria, IL$56,720
- 10San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$56,130
- 11Columbia, SC$55,670
- 12Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$55,550
Related job titles
Employers advertise Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles under these titles.
- Aluminum Molder
- Aluminum Molding Machine Operator
- Automatic Casting Machine Operator
- Babbitt Spinner
- Babbitter
- Bench Molder
- Blaster
- Blow Mold Operator
- Blow Molding Machine Tender
- Blow Molding Operator
- Bonding Machine Operator
- Brake Drum Molder
- Brass Molder
- Bullet Casting Operator
- Bullet-Slug Casting Machine Operator
- Cake-Press Operator
Related occupations
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,720
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$46,170
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$46,350
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,760
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,030
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,330
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,140
What a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic does
- Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
- Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
- Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
- Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
- Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
- Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
- Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
- The median annual wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $44,350 ($21 per hour). Pay ranges from about $34,170 at the 10th percentile to $61,600 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $45,960, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics the most?
- Hawaii has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $77,560.
- Is Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 150K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic do?
- Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.; Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.; Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary..