Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in California (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
California Median
$47,240
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.71
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+7% vs US median
US median $44,350
State Rank
#11 of 49
9,250 employed here

How much do Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in California?

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic working in California earn a median salary of $47,240 per year, or about $22.71 per hour. That is 7% above the national median of $44,350 for this occupation.

Within California, entry-level pay starts around $36,790 while the top 10% make $61,470 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $41,190 and $51,920 a year.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary range in California

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$36,790$17.69
25th percentile (early career)$41,190$19.80
50th percentile (median)$47,240$22.71
75th percentile (experienced)$51,920$24.96
90th percentile (top earners)$61,470$29.55

How California compares

California ranks 11th out of 49 states and territories for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Hawaii$77,560
2Maryland$63,460
3Maine$59,230
4Minnesota$49,590
5Nevada$49,590

Working as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California

Nationally, about 150,000 people work as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare California pay ($47,240) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in California?
The median Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in California is $47,240 per year, or about $22.71 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,790 at the entry level to $61,470 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 7% more than the national median of $44,350. California ranks 11th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $47,240 a year. About 9,250 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.