Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Career, Salary and Skills
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $44,350 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 150,470. Wage data is published for 272 locations.
Occupation description
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
O*NET code
51-4072.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$44,350
Hourly median
$21.32
Employment
150,470
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$34,170
10th
$37,270
25th
$44,350
Median
$51,020
75th
$61,600
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Operation and Control | 3.12 | 3.75 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.38 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 2.38 |
| Active Learning | 2.88 | 2.25 |
Typical 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.
- Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
Technology
- FANUC Robotics iRVision
- HotFlo! Die-Shot Monitor
- Intera Systems Hawk-i
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- RobotWare DieCast
- SAP software
- Visi-Trak True-Trak 20/20
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in MIMedian $39,490 · Employment 13,550
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in OHMedian $44,830 · Employment 11,050
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in ILMedian $45,500 · Employment 10,680
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in CAMedian $47,240 · Employment 9,250
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in INMedian $44,290 · Employment 8,810
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in WIMedian $44,230 · Employment 8,590
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $45,590 · Employment 7,910
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in NCMedian $41,630 · Employment 7,570
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in TXMedian $41,140 · Employment 7,460
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in PAMedian $46,760 · Employment 7,000
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in ALMedian $39,010 · Employment 5,900
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Detroit, MIMedian $39,790 · Employment 5,280
Related careers
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $47,920
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $50,620
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingNational median $43,380
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $52,800
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNational median $50,060
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $46,570
- Industrial Machinery MechanicsNational median $64,520
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandNational median $42,660
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.