Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Peer-group outlier SOC 51-9195

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

Median pay sits 38% below the mid peer in Production Occupations (neighbors include Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers, Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic).

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($123K) , Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K) , Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers ($65K) , Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic ($64K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-9195 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced
  2. 2. Brush or spray mold surfaces with parting agents or insert paper into molds to ensure smoothness and prevent sticking or seepage
  3. 3. Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products
  4. 4. Assemble, insert, and adjust wires, tubes, cores, fittings, rods, or patterns into molds, using hand tools and depth gauges
  5. 5. Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts
  6. 6. Separate models or patterns from molds and examine products for accuracy
  7. 7. Set the proper operating temperature for each casting
  8. 8. Load or stack filled molds in ovens, dryers, or curing boxes, or on storage racks or carts
  9. 9. Align and assemble parts to produce completed products, using gauges and hand tools
  10. 10. Operate and adjust controls of heating equipment to melt material or to cure, dry, or bake filled molds
  11. 11. Select sizes and types of molds according to instructions
  12. 12. Patch broken edges or fractures, using clay or plaster

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic: O*NET ranks Operation and Control first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-9195 - lead skill Operation and Control at 3.0 ; lead knowledge Production and Processing. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Operation and Control 3.0
  2. 2. Reading Comprehension 2.9
  3. 3. Active Listening 2.9
  4. 4. Operations Monitoring 2.9
  5. 5. Speaking 2.8
  6. 6. Monitoring 2.8
  7. 7. Quality Control Analysis 2.8
  8. 8. Writing 2.6

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Production and Processing 3.3
  2. 2. Mechanical 3.0
  3. 3. Administration and Management 2.9
  4. 4. English Language 2.6
  5. 5. Mathematics 2.6
  6. 6. Engineering and Technology 2.5
Pay vs Production Occupations peers
-38%
vs mid peer median $74,450
This role $46,170/yr
$46K
National median
↑ +6%
Growth 2024-2034
5,500
Annual openings
33,190
Estimated US jobs
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Highest-pay peer · $123K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

1. Hawaii $55,990
2. Montana $57,860
3. Connecticut $52,520
4. New Hampshire $51,470
5. California $49,190
6. Oregon $52,740
7. Colorado $49,530
8. Washington $51,780
9. Massachusetts $50,550
10. Maryland $50,360

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $63,340
  2. 2. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers $65,380
  3. 3. Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $63,870
  4. 4. Tool and Die Makers $64,050
  5. 5. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,450
  6. 6. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators $122,890

Among Production Occupations peers on this card, Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic sits 38% below the mid peer median ($74,450). Its own median is $46,170.

Employment Projections expect +6% change between 2024 and 2034 (faster than average vs baseline 3.1%). About 5,500 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Hawaii at $55,990. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators at $122,890. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic pay-rank #62 in Production Occupations

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic sits at pay-rank #62 of 105 detailed Production Occupations, the middle third of the major-group median table. ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.

Other mid-table titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 51-9195 · national median $46,170 · middle third of Production Occupations (#62/105). Open the full OEWS map or a named state before treating the card median as a local ask.

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 51-9195

Hawaii · top state for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

$56K published median

Montana · #2 state pay

$58K · behind Hawaii

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Highest-pay peer vs Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic · $123K

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

Lower-pay peer beside Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic · $63K

Compare Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic with another occupation →

Peer-comparison next reads

Compare Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

Against another occupation

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators card

Top peer in this major group

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic mid-table among Production Occupations? ▼
Yes: pay-rank #62 of 105 detailed Production Occupations, the middle third. Mid-table neighbors: Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ($46K), Upholsterers ($46K), Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers ($46K), Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other ($46K). ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.
What do molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic. Leading ones include: Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced; 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. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic? ▼
For SOC 51-9195, O*NET importance scores lead with Operation and Control (3.0), Reading Comprehension (2.9), Active Listening (2.9), Operations Monitoring (2.9). Knowledge areas emphasize Production and Processing, Mechanical, Administration and Management. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $46,170 as the national median for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic. The published 10th-90th range is $35,850 to $61,530. Beside Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($122,890), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic is +6%. Projected annual openings: about 5,500. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: faster than average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic? ▼
BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic? ▼
Hawaii ($55,990), Montana ($57,860), Connecticut ($52,520) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 51-9195. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics