Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic in the U.S. is $46,170 ($22.20 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $46,170
- Mean annual wage
- $47,500
- Median hourly wage
- $22.20
- Employment
- 33,190
33,190 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| 25th percentile | $39,280 | $18.88 |
| Median (50th) | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| 75th percentile | $53,000 | $25.48 |
| 90th percentile | $61,530 | $29.58 |
Highest-paying states for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | $57,860 | 150 |
| Hawaii | $55,990 | 40 |
| Oregon | $52,740 | 410 |
| Connecticut | $52,520 | 170 |
| Washington | $51,780 | 1,130 |
| New Hampshire | $51,470 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $50,550 | 1,200 |
| Maryland | $50,360 | 110 |
| Colorado | $49,530 | 390 |
| California | $49,190 | 3,590 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $35,620 median annual wage
- Alabama: $36,730 median annual wage
- Wyoming: $37,510 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $37,580 median annual wage
- North Carolina: $38,190 median annual wage
About this occupation
Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
Typical tasks
- Load or stack filled molds in ovens, dryers, or curing boxes, or on storage racks or carts.
- Select sizes and types of molds according to instructions.
- Operate and adjust controls of heating equipment to melt material or to cure, dry, or bake filled molds.
- Assemble, insert, and adjust wires, tubes, cores, fittings, rods, or patterns into molds, using hand tools and depth gauges.
- Measure and cut products to specified dimensions, using measuring and cutting instruments.
- Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 18.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 34.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.0% |
| Associate's degree | 5.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 17.5% |
| Master's degree | 4.1% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.0% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.