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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Iowa Median
$45,220
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.74
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+2% vs US median
US median $44,350
State Rank
#23 of 49
3,670 employed here

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

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Iowa take home a median of $45,220 annually — roughly $21.74 an hour — which runs 2% above the national median of $44,350.

Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $35,650 while the top 10% make $66,280 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,230 and $55,550 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$35,650$17.14
25th percentile (early career)$37,230$17.90
50th percentile (median)$45,220$21.74
75th percentile (experienced)$55,550$26.71
90th percentile (top earners)$66,280$31.87

How Iowa compares

Iowa ranks 23rd 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 Iowa

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 Iowa pay ($45,220) 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 Iowa?
The median Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Iowa is $45,220 per year, or about $21.74 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,650 at the entry level to $66,280 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 2% more than the national median of $44,350. Iowa ranks 23rd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Yes on pay — Iowa pays above the national median for this occupation, at $45,220 a year. About 3,670 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in Iowa. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), 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.