Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4072) earn a median $44,350 a year ($21.32 an hour) in the United States, with 150,470 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders run the equipment that forms metal and thermoplastic parts by pouring or injecting material into molds. The equipment includes molding, casting, and coremaking machines. The setter reads specifications, blueprints, and work orders to learn the temperatures, pressures, and cycle times required, then installs the mold or die and turns the valves and dials to set the machine. When production starts, the operator watches meters and gauges, records temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times, and looks for jams or malfunctions. Parts are measured and visually checked for surface and dimensional defects, and settings are adjusted when they drift. Water hoses are connected to the cooling systems of dies, and dies are removed from the machines when a production run ends.
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: Aluminum Molder, Aluminum Molding Machine Operator, Automatic Casting Machine Operator, Babbitt Spinner, Babbitter.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.43 | $17.92 | $21.32 | $24.53 | $29.62 | $22.10 | 150,470 |
| Annual | $34,170 | $37,270 | $44,350 | $51,020 | $61,600 | $45,960 | ||
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 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 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 | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $26.90 | $34.25 | $37.29 | $42.87 | $46.32 | $37.25 | 140 | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| Annual | $55,950 | $71,240 | $77,560 | $89,170 | $96,350 | $77,490 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $17.61 | $23.00 | $30.51 | $32.45 | $35.12 | $28.38 | 230 | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Annual | $36,630 | $47,840 | $63,460 | $67,500 | $73,060 | $59,030 | ||||
| Maine | Hourly | $22.28 | $22.88 | $28.47 | $31.01 | $37.90 | $28.76 | 470 | 0.74 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $46,350 | $47,580 | $59,230 | $64,500 | $78,830 | $59,830 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $17.82 | $19.36 | $23.84 | $27.74 | $38.08 | $24.98 | 2,230 | 0.76 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $37,060 | $40,270 | $49,590 | $57,700 | $79,200 | $51,950 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $17.06 | $19.37 | $23.84 | $32.65 | $38.44 | $26.13 | 350 | 0.23 | 0.24 |
| Annual | $35,490 | $40,290 | $49,590 | $67,900 | $79,960 | $54,340 | ||||
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 | $16.65 | $17.77 | $18.99 | $22.77 | $28.73 | $21.06 | 13,550 | 3.08 | 3.18 |
| Annual | $34,630 | $36,960 | $39,490 | $47,360 | $59,770 | $43,800 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $17.16 | $18.16 | $21.55 | $23.92 | $29.74 | $22.14 | 11,050 | 1.99 | 2.06 |
| Annual | $35,700 | $37,780 | $44,830 | $49,740 | $61,860 | $46,060 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.35 | $18.34 | $21.88 | $24.31 | $29.79 | $22.46 | 10,680 | 1.75 | 1.81 |
| Annual | $36,090 | $38,140 | $45,500 | $50,560 | $61,950 | $46,710 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.69 | $19.80 | $22.71 | $24.96 | $29.55 | $23.57 | 9,250 | 0.51 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $36,790 | $41,190 | $47,240 | $51,920 | $61,470 | $49,020 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $15.33 | $17.21 | $21.29 | $25.53 | $30.26 | $22.03 | 8,810 | 2.75 | 2.85 |
| Annual | $31,880 | $35,810 | $44,290 | $53,110 | $62,940 | $45,820 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $26.90 | $34.25 | $37.29 | $42.87 | $46.32 | $37.25 | 140 | 0.31 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $55,950 | $71,240 | $77,560 | $89,170 | $96,350 | $77,490 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $28.92 | $30.11 | $35.89 | $44.29 | $46.92 | $37.20 | 180 | 1.96 | 2.02 |
| Annual | $60,150 | $62,630 | $74,650 | $92,120 | $97,590 | $77,380 | ||||
| Saginaw, MI | Hourly | $17.24 | $17.35 | $35.64 | $37.81 | $37.81 | $28.50 | 280 | 3.47 | 3.59 |
| Annual | $35,860 | $36,090 | $74,130 | $78,640 | $78,640 | $59,280 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $17.72 | $19.99 | $31.99 | $34.79 | $38.07 | $28.19 | 100 | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Annual | $36,860 | $41,590 | $66,540 | $72,360 | $79,190 | $58,620 | ||||
| Portland-South Portland, ME | Hourly | $22.61 | $26.05 | $30.14 | $35.83 | $39.00 | $30.81 | 320 | 1.12 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $47,020 | $54,180 | $62,690 | $74,530 | $81,120 | $64,090 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $17.35 | $18.72 | $21.92 | $24.08 | $29.99 | $22.59 | 7,910 | 1.75 | 1.81 |
| Annual | $36,090 | $38,940 | $45,590 | $50,080 | $62,370 | $46,980 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $16.92 | $18.32 | $19.13 | $21.97 | $28.74 | $20.94 | 5,280 | 2.77 | 2.86 |
| Annual | $35,200 | $38,100 | $39,790 | $45,700 | $59,780 | $43,560 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.65 | $20.73 | $23.06 | $24.83 | $29.27 | $23.68 | 3,740 | 0.60 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $36,720 | $43,130 | $47,960 | $51,640 | $60,880 | $49,250 | ||||
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | Hourly | $17.03 | $17.64 | $18.15 | $22.24 | $28.08 | $20.59 | 3,150 | 5.27 | 5.45 |
| Annual | $35,420 | $36,690 | $37,760 | $46,260 | $58,400 | $42,830 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $15.62 | $17.25 | $20.92 | $23.23 | $30.17 | $21.70 | 2,490 | 0.26 | 0.27 |
| Annual | $32,490 | $35,870 | $43,500 | $48,320 | $62,750 | $45,130 | ||||
Top industries employing molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Plastics Product Manufacturing employ 49.9% of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic nationally (75,120 jobs) at a median $43,010 a year ($20.68 an hour), followed by Foundries (8.4%) and Employment Services (5.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastics Product Manufacturing NAICS 326100 | 75,120 | 49.9% | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| Foundries NAICS 331500 | 12,600 | 8.4% | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 8,940 | 5.9% | $36,160 | $17.38 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336300 | 8,780 | 5.8% | $42,050 | $20.22 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing NAICS 333500 | 5,720 | 3.8% | $40,040 | $19.25 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (150,470). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $36,370 for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in May 2021 and $44,350 in May 2025, with employment of 163,210 and 150,470.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $36,370 | $17.48 | 163,210 |
| May 2022 | $37,050 | $17.81 | 165,820 |
| May 2023 | $38,870 | $18.69 | 158,980 |
| May 2024 | $41,230 | $19.82 | 154,820 |
| May 2025 | $44,350 | $21.32 | 150,470 |
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
49 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 | Hawaii profile | $37.29 | $77,560 | $55,950 | $96,350 | 140 | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | $30.51 | $63,460 | $36,630 | $73,060 | 230 | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| 3 | Maine profile | $28.47 | $59,230 | $46,350 | $78,830 | 470 | 0.74 | 0.76 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $23.84 | $49,590 | $37,060 | $79,200 | 2,230 | 0.76 | 0.78 |
| 5 | Nevada profile | $23.84 | $49,590 | $35,490 | $79,960 | 350 | 0.23 | 0.24 |
| 6 | Nebraska profile | $23.32 | $48,500 | $31,710 | $61,780 | 1,000 | 0.97 | 1.00 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $23.22 | $48,290 | $38,880 | $70,000 | 1,800 | 0.51 | 0.52 |
| 8 | Colorado profile | $23.18 | $48,200 | $41,670 | $59,220 | 2,160 | 0.75 | 0.78 |
| 9 | North Dakota profile | $22.97 | $47,780 | $40,590 | $62,260 | 160 | 0.38 | 0.39 |
| 10 | New Hampshire profile | $22.89 | $47,610 | $39,070 | $62,590 | 1,080 | 1.58 | 1.63 |
| 11 | California profile | $22.71 | $47,240 | $36,790 | $61,470 | 9,250 | 0.51 | 0.52 |
| 12 | Kentucky profile | $22.65 | $47,110 | $33,970 | $67,810 | 4,340 | 2.17 | 2.24 |
| 13 | Arizona profile | $22.56 | $46,930 | $33,340 | $61,240 | 1,430 | 0.44 | 0.46 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.48 | $46,760 | $33,810 | $61,370 | 7,000 | 1.15 | 1.19 |
| 15 | Utah profile | $22.47 | $46,750 | $37,570 | $72,970 | 2,400 | 1.39 | 1.43 |
| 16 | Connecticut profile | $22.23 | $46,240 | $36,120 | $67,040 | 1,100 | 0.65 | 0.67 |
| 17 | Oregon profile | $22.21 | $46,200 | $34,310 | $66,730 | 1,780 | 0.90 | 0.93 |
| 18 | Oklahoma profile | $21.96 | $45,680 | $31,890 | $62,480 | 2,030 | 1.19 | 1.23 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $21.88 | $45,500 | $36,090 | $61,950 | 10,680 | 1.75 | 1.81 |
| 20 | Virginia profile | $21.81 | $45,370 | $29,360 | $64,090 | 1,680 | 0.41 | 0.42 |
| 21 | South Carolina profile | $21.76 | $45,270 | $34,670 | $62,150 | 3,240 | 1.40 | 1.45 |
| 22 | Delaware profile | $21.74 | $45,220 | $36,310 | $58,330 | 120 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| 23 | Iowa profile | $21.74 | $45,220 | $35,650 | $66,280 | 3,670 | 2.35 | 2.43 |
| 24 | Ohio profile | $21.55 | $44,830 | $35,700 | $61,860 | 11,050 | 1.99 | 2.06 |
| 25 | Arkansas profile | $21.53 | $44,790 | $31,110 | $58,940 | 2,520 | 1.94 | 2.00 |
| 26 | Vermont profile | $21.41 | $44,530 | $37,900 | $70,890 | 110 | 0.38 | 0.39 |
| 27 | New York profile | $21.40 | $44,500 | $35,560 | $63,120 | 3,320 | 0.34 | 0.35 |
| 28 | Indiana profile | $21.29 | $44,290 | $31,880 | $62,940 | 8,810 | 2.75 | 2.85 |
| 29 | Wisconsin profile | $21.27 | $44,230 | $34,630 | $59,530 | 8,590 | 2.92 | 3.02 |
| 30 | Missouri profile | $21.21 | $44,120 | $33,290 | $58,890 | 3,340 | 1.14 | 1.18 |
| 31 | Montana profile | $20.84 | $43,340 | $28,850 | $63,240 | 110 | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| 32 | Georgia profile | $20.79 | $43,250 | $35,030 | $66,980 | 2,060 | 0.42 | 0.44 |
| 33 | Kansas profile | $20.70 | $43,050 | $32,890 | $50,580 | 1,240 | 0.86 | 0.89 |
| 34 | Idaho profile | $20.52 | $42,690 | $34,100 | $57,770 | 520 | 0.60 | 0.62 |
| 35 | Massachusetts profile | $20.47 | $42,570 | $35,920 | $58,670 | 3,810 | 1.05 | 1.08 |
| 36 | West Virginia profile | $20.43 | $42,500 | $33,790 | $62,230 | 420 | 0.60 | 0.62 |
| 37 | Rhode Island profile | $20.20 | $42,020 | $31,200 | $60,760 | 430 | 0.87 | 0.89 |
| 38 | New Mexico profile | $20.19 | $41,990 | $33,110 | $49,200 | 250 | 0.29 | 0.30 |
| 39 | North Carolina profile | $20.01 | $41,630 | $31,370 | $59,170 | 7,570 | 1.53 | 1.58 |
| 40 | Texas profile | $19.78 | $41,140 | $29,780 | $59,540 | 7,460 | 0.53 | 0.55 |
| 41 | South Dakota profile | $19.59 | $40,750 | $34,420 | $54,850 | 840 | 1.83 | 1.89 |
| 42 | New Jersey profile | $19.21 | $39,950 | $32,220 | $60,800 | 2,450 | 0.57 | 0.59 |
| 43 | Mississippi profile | $19.10 | $39,730 | $31,250 | $57,350 | 550 | 0.48 | 0.49 |
| 44 | Michigan profile | $18.99 | $39,490 | $34,630 | $59,770 | 13,550 | 3.08 | 3.18 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $18.76 | $39,010 | $29,010 | $58,810 | 5,900 | 2.79 | 2.88 |
| 46 | Tennessee profile | $18.66 | $38,820 | $30,750 | $57,450 | 3,730 | 1.14 | 1.18 |
| 47 | Louisiana profile | $18.58 | $38,650 | $30,260 | $49,020 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 48 | Florida profile | $18.48 | $38,440 | $31,200 | $58,040 | 3,290 | 0.33 | 0.34 |
| 49 | Wyoming profile | $18.35 | $38,160 | $36,940 | $52,260 | 60 | 0.21 | 0.22 |
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 51-4072 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
- 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 51-4072, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4072.00, 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.