Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$46,170
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.20
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$61,530
entry level starts ~$35,850
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 33,000 employed

How much do Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic make?

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic earn a median annual salary of $46,170 in the United States, which works out to roughly $22.20 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $35,850 at the entry level and $61,530 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $39,280 and $53,000 a year.

That is $15,220 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary range by percentile

Half of all Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic earn between $39,280 and $53,000 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$35,850$17.24
25th percentile (early career)$39,280$18.88
50th percentile (median)$46,170$22.20
75th percentile (experienced)$53,000$25.48
90th percentile (top earners)$61,530$29.58

Highest-paying states for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Montana leads the country for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic pay at $57,860 a year, followed by Hawaii ($55,990) and Oregon ($52,740). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $35,620 — a gap of $22,240 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Montana$57,860$27.82+25%
2Hawaii$55,990$26.92+21%
3Oregon$52,740$25.36+14%
4Connecticut$52,520$25.25+14%
5Washington$51,780$24.89+12%

Workforce and education

About 33,000 people work as Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic make in the United States?
The median Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary in the United States is $46,170 per year, or about $22.20 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $35,850, while the top 10% of earners make $61,530 or more.
How does Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic median of $46,170 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic the most?
Montana is the highest-paying state for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic, with a median salary of $57,860 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic work in the United States?
About 33,000 people were employed as Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other manufacturing & production roles with similar pay.

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$62,620
median pay · specialist role

Machinist

$58,750
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Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

$42,660
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Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

$53,710
median pay · 34,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.