Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Foundry Mold and Coremakers (SOC 51-4071) earn a median $48,110 a year ($23.13 an hour) in the United States, with 12,790 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Oregon.
What foundry mold and coremakers do
Foundry mold and coremakers make the sand or wax forms into which molten metal is poured to create castings. A mold forms the outside shape of the casting, while a core makes any hollow space inside it. The worker positions a pattern in a mold box, sprinkles or sprays a parting agent so it will release, then sifts and packs sand around it by hand or with pneumatic rammers. Mold sections are separated, the pattern is removed, and any needed cores are set in place. Reinforcing wire may be added, the molds are cleaned and smoothed, and surface flaws are repaired, after which sections are clamped together, ready for pouring. Slab cores are formed around patterns with hand tools and glue, and mold sections and patterns are moved with cranes or by signaling others. Machine operators who run molding and casting machines are excluded and have their own code.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Airset Caster, Airset Molder, Bond Runner, Core Baker, Core Drier.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.87 | $20.13 | $23.13 | $27.57 | $30.12 | $23.97 | 12,790 |
| Annual | $37,160 | $41,870 | $48,110 | $57,350 | $62,640 | $49,860 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where foundry mold and coremakers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $23.46 | $25.28 | $32.24 | $32.67 | $38.28 | $30.05 | 270 | 0.14 | 1.64 |
| Annual | $48,790 | $52,590 | $67,060 | $67,940 | $79,610 | $62,510 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $24.82 | $29.10 | $29.56 | $29.56 | $29.65 | $29.04 | 590 | 0.20 | 2.44 |
| Annual | $51,630 | $60,540 | $61,480 | $61,480 | $61,680 | $60,410 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $19.83 | $23.47 | $27.46 | $27.46 | $30.12 | $26.22 | 390 | 0.06 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $41,240 | $48,820 | $57,110 | $57,110 | $62,640 | $54,530 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $24.53 | $24.63 | $27.33 | $34.59 | $36.85 | $29.30 | 470 | 0.16 | 1.95 |
| Annual | $51,020 | $51,220 | $56,840 | $71,940 | $76,650 | $60,950 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $22.81 | $22.83 | $26.90 | $34.22 | $37.37 | $28.40 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $47,440 | $47,480 | $55,940 | $71,190 | $77,730 | $59,070 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $18.35 | $19.71 | $22.19 | $28.62 | $28.62 | $23.70 | 2,050 | 0.47 | 5.67 |
| Annual | $38,180 | $41,010 | $46,150 | $59,540 | $59,540 | $49,300 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $15.62 | $17.31 | $21.22 | $23.27 | $30.04 | $21.70 | 1,270 | 0.43 | 5.27 |
| Annual | $32,480 | $36,010 | $44,130 | $48,400 | $62,490 | $45,130 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $18.40 | $20.13 | $21.51 | $23.37 | $27.84 | $22.56 | 1,230 | 0.20 | 2.47 |
| Annual | $38,280 | $41,870 | $44,750 | $48,610 | $57,900 | $46,920 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $18.95 | $20.49 | $23.58 | $28.91 | $30.81 | $24.64 | 980 | 0.18 | 2.15 |
| Annual | $39,420 | $42,630 | $49,040 | $60,130 | $64,080 | $51,240 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $17.88 | $22.59 | $24.54 | $26.35 | $26.61 | $23.73 | 850 | 0.40 | 4.87 |
| Annual | $37,180 | $46,980 | $51,040 | $54,800 | $55,340 | $49,360 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $23.46 | $26.08 | $32.24 | $32.67 | $38.28 | $30.36 | 230 | 0.19 | 2.35 |
| Annual | $48,790 | $54,250 | $67,060 | $67,940 | $79,610 | $63,140 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $18.01 | $22.88 | $27.93 | $30.53 | $31.64 | $26.26 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $37,470 | $47,590 | $58,090 | $63,500 | $65,810 | $54,620 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $24.63 | $27.04 | $27.71 | $36.84 | $38.11 | $30.58 | 210 | 0.11 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $51,220 | $56,240 | $57,630 | $76,620 | $79,280 | $63,610 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.85 | $23.85 | $26.54 | $26.54 | $29.28 | $26.51 | 320 | 0.03 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $49,610 | $49,610 | $55,210 | $55,210 | $60,890 | $55,140 | ||||
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | Hourly | $24.26 | $25.30 | $26.40 | $26.40 | $26.42 | $25.97 | 80 | 0.90 | 10.98 |
| Annual | $50,460 | $52,620 | $54,920 | $54,920 | $54,960 | $54,010 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $16.75 | $18.04 | $22.21 | $29.95 | $30.04 | $23.55 | 400 | 0.49 | 5.93 |
| Annual | $34,850 | $37,530 | $46,200 | $62,300 | $62,490 | $48,980 | ||||
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | Hourly | $20.88 | $20.88 | $20.88 | $23.12 | $24.53 | $21.89 | 340 | 0.90 | 10.97 |
| Annual | $43,440 | $43,440 | $43,440 | $48,090 | $51,020 | $45,520 | ||||
| Cleveland, OH | Hourly | $19.11 | $19.11 | $23.58 | $28.41 | $34.55 | $24.33 | 330 | 0.32 | 3.85 |
| Annual | $39,740 | $39,750 | $49,040 | $59,100 | $71,860 | $50,600 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.85 | $23.85 | $26.54 | $26.54 | $29.28 | $26.51 | 320 | 0.03 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $49,610 | $49,610 | $55,210 | $55,210 | $60,890 | $55,140 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.73 | $20.20 | $22.81 | $27.16 | $27.50 | $23.68 | 240 | 0.04 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $38,960 | $42,020 | $47,440 | $56,490 | $57,210 | $49,250 | ||||
Top industries employing foundry mold and coremakers
Foundries employ 70.6% of foundry mold and coremakers nationally (9,030 jobs) at a median $48,310 a year ($23.23 an hour), followed by Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (4.1%) and Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) (3.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundries NAICS 331500 | 9,030 | 70.6% | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 520 | 4.1% | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) NAICS 3320A1 | 480 | 3.8% | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336300 | 460 | 3.6% | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing NAICS 326100 | 350 | 2.7% | $47,680 | $22.93 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (12,790). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $37,710 for foundry mold and coremakers in May 2021 and $48,110 in May 2025, with employment of 13,610 and 12,790.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $37,710 | $18.13 | 13,610 |
| May 2022 | $40,120 | $19.29 | 11,330 |
| May 2023 | $44,300 | $21.30 | 11,780 |
| May 2024 | $45,700 | $21.97 | 12,720 |
| May 2025 | $48,110 | $23.13 | 12,790 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
33 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon profile | $32.24 | $67,060 | $48,790 | $79,610 | 270 | 0.14 | 1.64 |
| 2 | Missouri profile | $29.56 | $61,480 | $51,630 | $61,680 | 590 | 0.20 | 2.44 |
| 3 | Illinois profile | $27.46 | $57,110 | $41,240 | $62,640 | 390 | 0.06 | 0.78 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $27.33 | $56,840 | $51,020 | $76,650 | 470 | 0.16 | 1.95 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $26.90 | $55,940 | $47,440 | $77,730 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.20 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $26.54 | $55,210 | $49,610 | $62,710 | 330 | 0.08 | 0.92 |
| 7 | New York profile | $26.14 | $54,380 | $39,220 | $73,390 | 110 | 0.01 | 0.14 |
| 8 | Alabama profile | $24.54 | $51,040 | $37,180 | $55,340 | 850 | 0.40 | 4.87 |
| 9 | Indiana profile | $23.97 | $49,860 | $37,870 | $59,920 | 720 | 0.23 | 2.73 |
| 10 | Iowa profile | $23.59 | $49,060 | $43,250 | $57,580 | 480 | 0.31 | 3.76 |
| 11 | Ohio profile | $23.58 | $49,040 | $39,420 | $64,080 | 980 | 0.18 | 2.15 |
| 12 | Washington profile | $23.29 | $48,440 | $36,940 | $63,500 | 160 | 0.04 | 0.53 |
| 13 | Kansas profile | $23.04 | $47,910 | $32,120 | $55,000 | 150 | 0.11 | 1.29 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $22.75 | $47,310 | $36,290 | $104,080 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.78 |
| 15 | California profile | $22.56 | $46,930 | $38,280 | $61,970 | 420 | 0.02 | 0.28 |
| 16 | North Carolina profile | $22.55 | $46,910 | $32,270 | $62,100 | 260 | 0.05 | 0.63 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | $22.22 | $46,220 | $37,290 | $63,340 | 220 | 0.05 | 0.55 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $22.19 | $46,150 | $38,180 | $59,540 | 2,050 | 0.47 | 5.67 |
| 19 | Nebraska profile | $22.07 | $45,910 | $38,960 | $57,500 | 90 | 0.09 | 1.03 |
| 20 | Utah profile | $21.62 | $44,970 | $35,100 | $61,000 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.78 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $21.51 | $44,750 | $38,280 | $57,900 | 1,230 | 0.20 | 2.47 |
| 22 | Wisconsin profile | $21.22 | $44,130 | $32,480 | $62,490 | 1,270 | 0.43 | 5.27 |
| 23 | Kentucky profile | $20.97 | $43,610 | $26,940 | $62,640 | ** | ** | ** |
| 24 | Oklahoma profile | $20.94 | $43,550 | $35,670 | $47,600 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.88 |
| 25 | New Hampshire profile | $20.77 | $43,210 | $37,940 | $54,890 | 40 | 0.05 | 0.63 |
| 26 | Virginia profile | $20.73 | $43,130 | $40,090 | $71,410 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.31 |
| 27 | Colorado profile | $20.31 | $42,240 | $39,270 | $48,440 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.18 |
| 28 | Arkansas profile | $20.29 | $42,200 | $37,230 | $63,060 | 60 | 0.05 | 0.59 |
| 29 | Texas profile | $20.29 | $42,190 | $35,020 | $51,770 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.20 |
| 30 | South Carolina profile | $19.76 | $41,100 | $36,680 | $48,910 | 150 | 0.06 | 0.77 |
| 31 | Mississippi profile | $19.02 | $39,560 | $29,420 | $46,660 | 70 | 0.06 | 0.73 |
| 32 | Florida profile | $18.43 | $38,330 | $34,780 | $70,160 | 140 | 0.01 | 0.17 |
| 33 | Tennessee profile | $17.94 | $37,310 | $33,790 | $45,400 | 190 | 0.06 | 0.69 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-4070), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-4071 Foundry Mold and Coremakers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-4071, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4071.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.