Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $44,350 ($21.32 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $44,350
- Mean annual wage
- $45,960
- Median hourly wage
- $21.32
- Employment
- 150,470
150,470 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| 25th percentile | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Median (50th) | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| 75th percentile | $51,020 | $24.53 |
| 90th percentile | $61,600 | $29.62 |
Highest-paying states for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,560 | 140 |
| Maryland | $63,460 | 230 |
| Maine | $59,230 | 470 |
| Minnesota | $49,590 | 2,230 |
| Nevada | $49,590 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $48,500 | 1,000 |
| Washington | $48,290 | 1,800 |
| Colorado | $48,200 | 2,160 |
| North Dakota | $47,780 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $47,610 | 1,080 |
Lowest-paying states
- Wyoming: $38,160 median annual wage
- Florida: $38,440 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $38,650 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $38,820 median annual wage
- Alabama: $39,010 median annual wage
About this occupation
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Typical tasks
- Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
- Preheat tools, dies, plastic materials, or patterns, using blowtorches or other equipment.
- Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
- Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
- Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches.
- Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 11.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 44.3% |
| Some college, no degree | 27.0% |
| Associate's degree | 9.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 6.4% |
| Master's degree | 0.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.4% |
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.