Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Career, Salary and Skills
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $46,170 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 33,190. Wage data is published for 179 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
51-9195.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Not recorded
National salary and employment
Median annual
$46,170
Hourly median
$22.20
Employment
33,190
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Active Listening | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Monitoring | 2.75 | 2.50 |
| Speaking | 2.75 | 2.38 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.75 | 2.38 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.62 | 2.38 |
| Writing | 2.62 | 2.50 |
Typical tasks
- Trim or remove excess material, using scrapers, knives, or band saws.
- 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.
- Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts.
- Separate models or patterns from molds and examine products for accuracy.
- Set the proper operating temperature for each casting.
- Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
Technology
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Inventory control software
- Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Timekeeping software
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in CAMedian $49,190 · Employment 3,590
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in TXMedian $40,010 · Employment 2,550
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in FLMedian $45,030 · Employment 2,410
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in PAMedian $45,310 · Employment 1,690
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in OHMedian $44,560 · Employment 1,560
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in INMedian $46,400 · Employment 1,520
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in MIMedian $45,250 · Employment 1,470
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in ILMedian $47,180 · Employment 1,230
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in MAMedian $50,550 · Employment 1,200
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in NYMedian $45,940 · Employment 1,150
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in WAMedian $51,780 · Employment 1,130
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $47,640 · Employment 970
Related careers
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersNational median $46,460
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $46,550
- Tire BuildersNational median $57,390
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingNational median $43,380
- Patternmakers, Metal and PlasticNational median $58,000
- Tool and Die MakersNational median $64,050
- Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersNational median $51,330
- Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsNational median $46,880
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.