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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Illinois Median
$45,500
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+3% vs US median
US median $44,350
State Rank
#19 of 49
10,680 employed here

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

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic working in Illinois earn a median salary of $45,500 per year, or about $21.88 per hour. That is 3% above the national median of $44,350 for this occupation.

Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $36,090 while the top 10% make $61,950 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,140 and $50,560 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$36,090$17.35
25th percentile (early career)$38,140$18.34
50th percentile (median)$45,500$21.88
75th percentile (experienced)$50,560$24.31
90th percentile (top earners)$61,950$29.78

How Illinois compares

Illinois ranks 19th 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 Illinois

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 Illinois pay ($45,500) 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 Illinois?
The median Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Illinois is $45,500 per year, or about $21.88 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,090 at the entry level to $61,950 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 3% more than the national median of $44,350. Illinois ranks 19th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Yes on pay — Illinois pays above the national median for this occupation, at $45,500 a year. About 10,680 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in Illinois. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), 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.