Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Also called: Core Machine Operator · Core Maker · Core Stripper · Coremaker · Green Sand Molder · Mold Maker
Median pay (national)
$45,700
$36,220–$61,390 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
12,720
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-25.9%
~900 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for foundry mold and coremakers shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $61,390 versus $36,220 at the bottom 10% — 1.7x. The median of $45,700 leaves roughly 34% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -25.9% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 32 states with released data, Oregon pays the most for this role (median $65,020, +42% vs the national median), while South Carolina sits lowest at $35,070 — a 85% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
- Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
- Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
- Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
- Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
- Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces.
- Cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into molds.
- Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
- Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns.
- Pour molten metal into molds, manually or with crane ladles.
Tools & technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- CNC Software Mastercam
- Inventory tracking software
- Machine control software
- PTC Creo Parametric
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Physics
- Design
- Engineering and Technology