Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary by state
Base salary plus target bonus using the Grahall equation. Bonus is a function of base; higher base means a higher target bonus.
Base salary
$49,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$1,500
3.5% of base
Total target cash
$50,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile):$1,000 to $2,500
Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.
What Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastics do
Typical education: High School Diploma
Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
Trim or remove excess material, using scrapers, knives, or band saws.
Brush or spray mold surfaces with parting agents or insert paper into molds to ensure smoothness and prevent sticking or seepage.
Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products.
Assemble, insert, and adjust wires, tubes, cores, fittings, rods, or patterns into molds, using hand tools and depth gauges.
Top skills:Operation and ControlReading ComprehensionOperations MonitoringActive ListeningSpeakingQuality Control Analysis
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$37,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$40,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$48,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$55,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$63,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+6.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
5,500
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary by industry
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
22,100 workers
$49,000
Specialty Trade Contractors
3,080 workers
$53,500
Building Finishing Contractors
2,560 workers
$54,500
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
1,860 workers
$46,500
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
1,620 workers
$47,500
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
1,360 workers
$46,500
Administrative and Support Services
1,000 workers
$37,000
Employment Services
1,000 workers
$37,000
Plastics Product Manufacturing
980 workers
$42,500
Rubber Product Manufacturing
880 workers
$50,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic pays 13% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic make?
The average base salary for a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in the United States is $49,000 per year, or about $23.56 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $40,500 and $55,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Production roles?
The Production job family averages $56,000 across 112 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
