Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median salary of $41,230 per year, ranking in the top 82% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -3.8% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?

The median annual wage for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is $41,230. That puts molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at #668 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic is -3.8%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 154K positions in 2024 to 148K in 2034, a net change of -6K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
2. 2.Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
3. 3.Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
4. 4.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.
5. 5.Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
6. 6.Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
7. 7.Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
8. 8.Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.

Top skills for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

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Common questions parents ask about molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic