51 Series · SOC 51-4072
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $44,350
- Median / year
- $61,600
- Top 10% earn
- -3.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 150,470
- US workers
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $44,350 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $44,350, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,170 (10th percentile) to $61,600 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 150,470 US workers. Hawaii pays the most ($77,560), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $44,350, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 18% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #71 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 3.8% by 2033.
- $44,350
- Median annual wage
- Top 82%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #71 of 105
- in Production
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Hawaii at $77,560. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4072) pays a national median of $44,350 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,170 at the 10th percentile to $61,600 at the 90th, with a mean of $45,960 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 150,470 Americans work in this occupation across 50 reporting states and 302 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -3.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 15,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Hawaii pays the highest state median at $77,560, which is +75% above the national figure. The top metro is Urban Honolulu, HI at $77,560 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 150,470 jobs Median $44,350/yr
Median Salary
$44,350
per year
Median Hourly
$21.32/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$45,960
average
Employment
150,470
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$44,350 Bottom 18% higher than 18% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 22 51-series occupations with growth data, Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits on the slower-growing side at -3.8% growth and $44,350 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-3.8%
Declining
Annual Openings
15,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Operations Monitoring 3.4
Active Listening 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Monitoring 3.1
Operation and Control 3.1
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Quality Control Analysis 3.0
Time Management 3.0
Active Learning 2.9
Knowledge Areas
Production and Processing 3.5
Mechanical 3.5
Mathematics 3.1
English Language 2.9
Administration and Management 2.5
Physics 2.5
Computers and Electronics 2.4
Engineering and Technology 2.4
Education and Training 2.3
Customer and Personal Service 2.1
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
- ▸ Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
- ▸ Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
- ▸ Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
- ▸ Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$34,170
25th Percentile
$37,270
Median
$44,350
75th Percentile
$51,020
90th Percentile
$61,600
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 50 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $77,560 | +75% above national |
| 2 | Maryland | $63,460 | +43% above national |
| 3 | Maine | $59,230 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Minnesota | $49,590 | +12% above national |
| 5 | Nevada | $49,590 | +12% above national |
| 6 | Nebraska | $48,500 | +9% above national |
| 7 | Washington | $48,290 | +9% above national |
| 8 | Colorado | $48,200 | +9% above national |
| 9 | North Dakota | $47,780 | +8% above national |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $47,610 | +7% above national |
| 11 | California | $47,240 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Kentucky | $47,110 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Arizona | $46,930 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $46,760 | +5% above national |
| 15 | Utah | $46,750 | +5% above national |
| 16 | Connecticut | $46,240 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Oregon | $46,200 | +4% above national |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $45,680 | +3% above national |
| 19 | Illinois | $45,500 | +3% above national |
| 20 | Virginia | $45,370 | +2% above national |
| 21 | South Carolina | $45,270 | +2% above national |
| 22 | Delaware | $45,220 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Iowa | $45,220 | +2% above national |
| 24 | Ohio | $44,830 | +1% above national |
| 25 | Arkansas | $44,790 | +1% above national |
| 26 | Vermont | $44,530 | same as national |
| 27 | New York | $44,500 | same as national |
| 28 | Indiana | $44,290 | same as national |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $44,230 | same as national |
| 30 | Missouri | $44,120 | 1% below national |
| 31 | Montana | $43,340 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Georgia | $43,250 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Kansas | $43,050 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Idaho | $42,690 | 4% below national |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $42,570 | 4% below national |
| 36 | West Virginia | $42,500 | 4% below national |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $42,020 | 5% below national |
| 38 | New Mexico | $41,990 | 5% below national |
| 39 | North Carolina | $41,630 | 6% below national |
| 40 | Texas | $41,140 | 7% below national |
| 41 | South Dakota | $40,750 | 8% below national |
| 42 | New Jersey | $39,950 | 10% below national |
| 43 | Mississippi | $39,730 | 10% below national |
| 44 | Michigan | $39,490 | 11% below national |
| 45 | Alabama | $39,010 | 12% below national |
| 46 | Tennessee | $38,820 | 12% below national |
| 47 | Louisiana | $38,650 | 13% below national |
| 48 | Florida | $38,440 | 13% below national |
| 49 | Wyoming | $38,160 | 14% below national |
| 50 | Puerto Rico | $23,080 | 48% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 302 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $77,560 | +75% above national |
| 2 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $74,650 | +68% above national |
| 3 | Saginaw, MI | $74,130 | +67% above national |
| 4 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $66,540 | +50% above national |
| 5 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $62,690 | +41% above national |
| 6 | Evansville, IN | $61,160 | +38% above national |
| 7 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,430 | +36% above national |
| 8 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $58,730 | +32% above national |
| 9 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $58,020 | +31% above national |
| 10 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $56,960 | +28% above national |
| 11 | Peoria, IL | $56,720 | +28% above national |
| 12 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,130 | +27% above national |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $55,670 | +26% above national |
| 14 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $55,590 | +25% above national |
| 15 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $55,550 | +25% above national |
| 16 | Sheboygan, WI | $55,410 | +25% above national |
| 17 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $55,400 | +25% above national |
| 18 | Mobile, AL | $55,350 | +25% above national |
| 19 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $55,310 | +25% above national |
| 20 | Reading, PA | $54,470 | +23% above national |
| 21 | Corpus Christi, TX | $53,890 | +22% above national |
| 22 | Utica-Rome, NY | $53,160 | +20% above national |
| 23 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $53,030 | +20% above national |
| 24 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $52,830 | +19% above national |
| 25 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $52,810 | +19% above national |
| 26 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $52,090 | +17% above national |
| 27 | Oklahoma City, OK | $51,360 | +16% above national |
| 28 | Ogden, UT | $51,230 | +16% above national |
| 29 | St. Cloud, MN | $51,060 | +15% above national |
| 30 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $51,030 | +15% above national |
| 31 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $51,020 | +15% above national |
| 32 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $50,710 | +14% above national |
| 33 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $50,700 | +14% above national |
| 34 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $50,540 | +14% above national |
| 35 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,310 | +13% above national |
| 36 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $50,000 | +13% above national |
| 37 | Albany, OR | $49,700 | +12% above national |
| 38 | Reno, NV | $49,590 | +12% above national |
| 39 | Midland, MI | $49,270 | +11% above national |
| 40 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $49,130 | +11% above national |
| 41 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $49,110 | +11% above national |
| 42 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $49,040 | +11% above national |
| 43 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $49,020 | +11% above national |
| 44 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $48,890 | +10% above national |
| 45 | Lancaster, PA | $48,780 | +10% above national |
| 46 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $48,710 | +10% above national |
| 47 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $48,700 | +10% above national |
| 48 | Jefferson City, MO | $48,700 | +10% above national |
| 49 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $48,470 | +9% above national |
| 50 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $48,430 | +9% above national |
| 51 | Greeley, CO | $48,200 | +9% above national |
| 52 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $48,190 | +9% above national |
| 53 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $48,140 | +9% above national |
| 54 | Vallejo, CA | $48,050 | +8% above national |
| 55 | Pueblo, CO | $48,010 | +8% above national |
| 56 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $48,010 | +8% above national |
| 57 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,960 | +8% above national |
| 58 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,930 | +8% above national |
| 59 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,910 | +8% above national |
| 60 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $47,880 | +8% above national |
| 61 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $47,850 | +8% above national |
| 62 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,840 | +8% above national |
| 63 | Glens Falls, NY | $47,740 | +8% above national |
| 64 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $47,740 | +8% above national |
| 65 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $47,710 | +8% above national |
| 66 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,710 | +8% above national |
| 67 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $47,700 | +8% above national |
| 68 | Lincoln, NE | $47,690 | +8% above national |
| 69 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $47,640 | +7% above national |
| 70 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $47,560 | +7% above national |
| 71 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $47,550 | +7% above national |
| 72 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $47,340 | +7% above national |
| 73 | Joplin, MO-KS | $47,330 | +7% above national |
| 74 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $47,320 | +7% above national |
| 75 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $47,280 | +7% above national |
| 76 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $47,260 | +7% above national |
| 77 | Modesto, CA | $47,240 | +7% above national |
| 78 | Columbus, OH | $47,120 | +6% above national |
| 79 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,120 | +6% above national |
| 80 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $47,050 | +6% above national |
| 81 | Montgomery, AL | $46,990 | +6% above national |
| 82 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $46,960 | +6% above national |
| 83 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $46,910 | +6% above national |
| 84 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,850 | +6% above national |
| 85 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,810 | +6% above national |
| 86 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,760 | +5% above national |
| 87 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $46,750 | +5% above national |
| 88 | Dubuque, IA | $46,720 | +5% above national |
| 89 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $46,720 | +5% above national |
| 90 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $46,600 | +5% above national |
| 91 | Spartanburg, SC | $46,530 | +5% above national |
| 92 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $46,510 | +5% above national |
| 93 | Fort Wayne, IN | $46,420 | +5% above national |
| 94 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,400 | +5% above national |
| 95 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $46,350 | +5% above national |
| 96 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,320 | +4% above national |
| 97 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,320 | +4% above national |
| 98 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $46,280 | +4% above national |
| 99 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $46,250 | +4% above national |
| 100 | Jonesboro, AR | $46,140 | +4% above national |
| 101 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,130 | +4% above national |
| 102 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $46,090 | +4% above national |
| 103 | Winchester, VA-WV | $46,090 | +4% above national |
| 104 | New Haven, CT | $46,070 | +4% above national |
| 105 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $46,070 | +4% above national |
| 106 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $46,020 | +4% above national |
| 107 | York-Hanover, PA | $45,970 | +4% above national |
| 108 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $45,940 | +4% above national |
| 109 | Omaha, NE-IA | $45,830 | +3% above national |
| 110 | Florence, SC | $45,820 | +3% above national |
| 111 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $45,800 | +3% above national |
| 112 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $45,730 | +3% above national |
| 113 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,710 | +3% above national |
| 114 | Kenosha, WI | $45,670 | +3% above national |
| 115 | Eau Claire, WI | $45,650 | +3% above national |
| 116 | Fargo, ND-MN | $45,650 | +3% above national |
| 117 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $45,650 | +3% above national |
| 118 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,650 | +3% above national |
| 119 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $45,600 | +3% above national |
| 120 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $45,590 | +3% above national |
| 121 | Pittsburgh, PA | $45,570 | +3% above national |
| 122 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,570 | +3% above national |
| 123 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $45,560 | +3% above national |
| 124 | Chico, CA | $45,530 | +3% above national |
| 125 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $45,520 | +3% above national |
| 126 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $45,500 | +3% above national |
| 127 | Bowling Green, KY | $45,490 | +3% above national |
| 128 | Fresno, CA | $45,440 | +2% above national |
| 129 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $45,410 | +2% above national |
| 130 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,350 | +2% above national |
| 131 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $45,300 | +2% above national |
| 132 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $45,300 | +2% above national |
| 133 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $45,270 | +2% above national |
| 134 | Williamsport, PA | $45,270 | +2% above national |
| 135 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,230 | +2% above national |
| 136 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $45,190 | +2% above national |
| 137 | Madison, WI | $45,150 | +2% above national |
| 138 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,140 | +2% above national |
| 139 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $45,100 | +2% above national |
| 140 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $45,020 | +2% above national |
| 141 | Syracuse, NY | $45,010 | +1% above national |
| 142 | Tyler, TX | $44,930 | +1% above national |
| 143 | Rockford, IL | $44,880 | +1% above national |
| 144 | Gettysburg, PA | $44,870 | +1% above national |
| 145 | Cleveland, OH | $44,860 | +1% above national |
| 146 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $44,840 | +1% above national |
| 147 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $44,740 | +1% above national |
| 148 | Akron, OH | $44,530 | same as national |
| 149 | Cleveland, TN | $44,510 | same as national |
| 150 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $44,450 | same as national |
| 151 | Green Bay, WI | $44,380 | same as national |
| 152 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $44,370 | same as national |
| 153 | Bend, OR | $44,360 | same as national |
| 154 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $44,330 | same as national |
| 155 | Decatur, AL | $44,320 | same as national |
| 156 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $44,240 | same as national |
| 157 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $44,230 | same as national |
| 158 | Springfield, MO | $44,170 | same as national |
| 159 | Boulder, CO | $44,020 | 1% below national |
| 160 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $43,970 | 1% below national |
| 161 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $43,940 | 1% below national |
| 162 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $43,920 | 1% below national |
| 163 | Springfield, MA | $43,920 | 1% below national |
| 164 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $43,880 | 1% below national |
| 165 | Terre Haute, IN | $43,880 | 1% below national |
| 166 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $43,870 | 1% below national |
| 167 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $43,770 | 1% below national |
| 168 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $43,750 | 1% below national |
| 169 | Lima, OH | $43,720 | 1% below national |
| 170 | Huntsville, AL | $43,630 | 2% below national |
| 171 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,500 | 2% below national |
| 172 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $43,400 | 2% below national |
| 173 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $43,390 | 2% below national |
| 174 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $43,370 | 2% below national |
| 175 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $43,340 | 2% below national |
| 176 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $43,180 | 3% below national |
| 177 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $42,900 | 3% below national |
| 178 | Twin Falls, ID | $42,690 | 4% below national |
| 179 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $42,580 | 4% below national |
| 180 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $42,570 | 4% below national |
| 181 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $42,510 | 4% below national |
| 182 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $42,500 | 4% below national |
| 183 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $42,390 | 4% below national |
| 184 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $42,350 | 5% below national |
| 185 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $42,290 | 5% below national |
| 186 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $42,220 | 5% below national |
| 187 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $42,200 | 5% below national |
| 188 | Mansfield, OH | $42,050 | 5% below national |
| 189 | Colorado Springs, CO | $41,990 | 5% below national |
| 190 | Rochester, NY | $41,790 | 6% below national |
| 191 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $41,740 | 6% below national |
| 192 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $41,700 | 6% below national |
| 193 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $41,630 | 6% below national |
| 194 | Toledo, OH | $41,350 | 7% below national |
| 195 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $41,110 | 7% below national |
| 196 | Battle Creek, MI | $41,070 | 7% below national |
| 197 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $41,050 | 7% below national |
| 198 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $40,820 | 8% below national |
| 199 | Carson City, NV | $40,810 | 8% below national |
| 200 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $40,780 | 8% below national |
| 201 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $40,710 | 8% below national |
| 202 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $40,580 | 9% below national |
| 203 | Birmingham, AL | $40,530 | 9% below national |
| 204 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $40,360 | 9% below national |
| 205 | Asheville, NC | $40,170 | 9% below national |
| 206 | Morristown, TN | $40,090 | 10% below national |
| 207 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $39,880 | 10% below national |
| 208 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $39,870 | 10% below national |
| 209 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $39,790 | 10% below national |
| 210 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $39,790 | 10% below national |
| 211 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $39,720 | 10% below national |
| 212 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $39,680 | 11% below national |
| 213 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $39,660 | 11% below national |
| 214 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $39,530 | 11% below national |
| 215 | Tulsa, OK | $39,520 | 11% below national |
| 216 | Winston-Salem, NC | $39,450 | 11% below national |
| 217 | Knoxville, TN | $39,400 | 11% below national |
| 218 | Boise City, ID | $39,380 | 11% below national |
| 219 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,380 | 11% below national |
| 220 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $39,340 | 11% below national |
| 221 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $39,310 | 11% below national |
| 222 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $39,240 | 12% below national |
| 223 | Tucson, AZ | $39,190 | 12% below national |
| 224 | Ann Arbor, MI | $39,170 | 12% below national |
| 225 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $39,170 | 12% below national |
| 226 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $39,080 | 12% below national |
| 227 | Pittsfield, MA | $38,960 | 12% below national |
| 228 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $38,930 | 12% below national |
| 229 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $38,900 | 12% below national |
| 230 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $38,890 | 12% below national |
| 231 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $38,870 | 12% below national |
| 232 | Johnson City, TN | $38,820 | 12% below national |
| 233 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $38,820 | 12% below national |
| 234 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $38,780 | 13% below national |
| 235 | Waco, TX | $38,650 | 13% below national |
| 236 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,620 | 13% below national |
| 237 | Wichita, KS | $38,600 | 13% below national |
| 238 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,500 | 13% below national |
| 239 | Columbus, IN | $38,420 | 13% below national |
| 240 | Gadsden, AL | $38,420 | 13% below national |
| 241 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $38,420 | 13% below national |
| 242 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $38,370 | 13% below national |
| 243 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,270 | 14% below national |
| 244 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $38,270 | 14% below national |
| 245 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $38,140 | 14% below national |
| 246 | Traverse City, MI | $38,070 | 14% below national |
| 247 | Gainesville, GA | $38,060 | 14% below national |
| 248 | Jackson, MI | $38,020 | 14% below national |
| 249 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,970 | 14% below national |
| 250 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $37,910 | 15% below national |
| 251 | Jackson, MS | $37,870 | 15% below national |
| 252 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,860 | 15% below national |
| 253 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $37,790 | 15% below national |
| 254 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $37,760 | 15% below national |
| 255 | Roanoke, VA | $37,760 | 15% below national |
| 256 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $37,650 | 15% below national |
| 257 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $37,630 | 15% below national |
| 258 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,590 | 15% below national |
| 259 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $37,540 | 15% below national |
| 260 | Binghamton, NY | $37,410 | 16% below national |
| 261 | Logan, UT-ID | $37,410 | 16% below national |
| 262 | Jackson, TN | $37,400 | 16% below national |
| 263 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $37,400 | 16% below national |
| 264 | Worcester, MA | $37,370 | 16% below national |
| 265 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $37,370 | 16% below national |
| 266 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $37,230 | 16% below national |
| 267 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $37,150 | 16% below national |
| 268 | Fond du Lac, WI | $37,070 | 16% below national |
| 269 | Monroe, MI | $37,050 | 16% below national |
| 270 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $36,870 | 17% below national |
| 271 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,850 | 17% below national |
| 272 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $36,810 | 17% below national |
| 273 | Richmond, VA | $36,720 | 17% below national |
| 274 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,680 | 17% below national |
| 275 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,670 | 17% below national |
| 276 | Grants Pass, OR | $36,610 | 17% below national |
| 277 | Niles, MI | $36,600 | 17% below national |
| 278 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $36,560 | 18% below national |
| 279 | Erie, PA | $36,530 | 18% below national |
| 280 | Owensboro, KY | $36,430 | 18% below national |
| 281 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $36,280 | 18% below national |
| 282 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $36,110 | 19% below national |
| 283 | Burlington, NC | $36,040 | 19% below national |
| 284 | Wilmington, NC | $35,580 | 20% below national |
| 285 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $35,560 | 20% below national |
| 286 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $35,300 | 20% below national |
| 287 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $35,220 | 21% below national |
| 288 | Vineland, NJ | $34,870 | 21% below national |
| 289 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $34,820 | 21% below national |
| 290 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $34,810 | 22% below national |
| 291 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $34,770 | 22% below national |
| 292 | Flint, MI | $34,570 | 22% below national |
| 293 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $34,390 | 22% below national |
| 294 | El Paso, TX | $34,310 | 23% below national |
| 295 | Dothan, AL | $34,230 | 23% below national |
| 296 | Greenville, NC | $33,190 | 25% below national |
| 297 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $31,920 | 28% below national |
| 298 | Hot Springs, AR | $31,110 | 30% below national |
| 299 | Lynchburg, VA | $30,930 | 30% below national |
| 300 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $28,720 | 35% below national |
| 301 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $28,540 | 36% below national |
| 302 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $28,260 | 36% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make? ▼
The median annual salary for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $44,350 ($21.32/hour). The salary range spans from $34,170 at the 10th percentile to $61,600 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic the most? ▼
Hawaii pays the highest median salary for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic at $77,560/year, which is +75% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 3.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.2 per 100 workers.
Is Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a good career? ▼
Employment for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to decline 3.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 15,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay vary by state? ▼
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $77,560/year, while Tennessee pays the least at $38,820/year. BLS data covers 50 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is Urban Honolulu, HI at $77,560/year. BLS reports wage data for 302 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $51,020/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Hawaii leads at $77,560/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.