Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC code 51-4072 · O*NET-SOC 51-4072.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$44,350
a year
Hourly
$21.32
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$45,960
$22.10 per hour
Middle 50%
$37,270 – $51,020
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$34,170 – $61,600
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
150,470
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $34,170
- $16.43/hr
- 25th percentile
- $37,270
- $17.92/hr
- Median percentile
- $44,350
- $21.32/hr
- 75th percentile
- $51,020
- $24.53/hr
- 90th percentile
- $61,600
- $29.62/hr
What do molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 57% 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)57%
- Less than a High School Diploma30%
- Post-Secondary Certificate11%
- Some College Courses2%
Common questions
How much does a molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?
The national median is $44,350 a year. The full range runs from $34,170 at the 10th percentile to $61,600 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 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 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
- Active Listening3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Active Learning2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing3.5/5
- Mechanical3.5/5
- Mathematics3.1/5
- English Language2.9/5
- Administration and Management2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management.