Foundry Mold and Coremakers
SOC code 51-4071 · O*NET-SOC 51-4071.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Foundry Mold and Coremakers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$48,110
a year
Hourly
$23.13
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$49,860
$23.97 per hour
Middle 50%
$41,870 – $57,350
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$37,160 – $62,640
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
12,790
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $37,160
- $17.87/hr
- 25th percentile
- $41,870
- $20.13/hr
- Median percentile
- $48,110
- $23.13/hr
- 75th percentile
- $57,350
- $27.57/hr
- 90th percentile
- $62,640
- $30.12/hr
What do foundry mold and coremakers do?
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
- Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
- Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
- Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
- Tend machines that bond cope and drag together to form completed shell molds.
- Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
- Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
- Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 64% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)64%
- Less than a High School Diploma36%
Common questions
How much does a foundry mold and coremakers earn?
The national median is $48,110 a year. The full range runs from $37,160 at the 10th percentile to $62,640 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a foundry mold and coremakers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Active Listening2.9/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
- Speaking2.6/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language3.4/5
- Mechanical3.4/5
- Production and Processing3.3/5
- Education and Training3.3/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Physics3.1/5
- Design3.1/5
- Engineering and Technology3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making.