Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Also called: Core Machine Operator · Die Cast Technician · Diecast Machine Operator · Machine Operator · Mold Setter · Mold Technician
Median pay (national)
$41,230
$31,990–$60,110 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
154,820
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-3.8%
~15,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $60,110 versus $31,990 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $41,230 leaves roughly 46% 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 -3.8% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 15,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 50 states with released data, Hawaii pays the most for this role (median $70,390, +71% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $22,570 — a 212% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
Tailor your resume to Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
- Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
- Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
- Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
- Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
- Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
- Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
- Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
- Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
Tools & technology
- SAP software
- FANUC Robotics iRVision
- HotFlo! Die-Shot Monitor
- Intera Systems Hawk-i
- RobotWare DieCast
- Visi-Trak True-Trak 20/20
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Physics
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology