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.
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is a professional role in the Production job family, focused on Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringActive ListeningReading ComprehensionOperation and ControlMonitoringTime Management
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$35,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$38,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$46,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$53,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$64,000
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
-3.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
15,900
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by industry
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
77,480 workers
$46,000
Plastics Product Manufacturing
75,120 workers
$46,000
Primary Metal Manufacturing
14,810 workers
$52,500
Foundries
12,600 workers
$50,500
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
12,330 workers
$49,000
Machinery Manufacturing
10,480 workers
$50,500
Administrative and Support Services
8,940 workers
$38,000
Employment Services
8,940 workers
$38,000
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
8,780 workers
$47,500
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
8,350 workers
$50,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pays 15% 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 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
The average base salary for a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $47,500 per year, or about $22.84 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $38,500 and $53,000 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.
