Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$44,350
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$21.32
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$61,600
entry level starts ~$34,170
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 150,000 employed

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

The median pay for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States is $44,350 per year — about $21.32 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $34,170, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $61,600.

That is $17,040 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary range by percentile

Half of all Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn between $37,270 and $51,020 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$34,170$16.43
25th percentile (early career)$37,270$17.92
50th percentile (median)$44,350$21.32
75th percentile (experienced)$51,020$24.53
90th percentile (top earners)$61,600$29.62

Highest-paying states for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Hawaii leads the country for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay at $77,560 a year, followed by Maryland ($63,460) and Maine ($59,230). At the other end, Wyoming posts the lowest median at $38,160 — a gap of $39,400 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Hawaii$77,560$37.29+75%
2Maryland$63,460$30.51+43%
3Maine$59,230$28.48+34%
4Minnesota$49,590$23.84+12%
5Nevada$49,590$23.84+12%

Workforce and education

About 150,000 people work as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $45,960 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. 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 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in the United States?
The median Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in the United States is $44,350 per year, or about $21.32 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $34,170, while the top 10% of earners make $61,600 or more.
How does Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic median of $44,350 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic the most?
Hawaii is the highest-paying state for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, with a median salary of $77,560 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic work in the United States?
About 150,000 people were employed as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.