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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

51-4072 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.


National estimates for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Industry profile for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Geographic profile for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

National estimates for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
163,210 1.5 % $ 18.04 $ 37,530 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 13.02 $ 14.22 $ 17.48 $ 21.54 $ 24.03
Annual Wage (2) $ 27,070 $ 29,570 $ 36,370 $ 44,810 $ 49,990


Industry profile for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Plastics Product Manufacturing 82,040 14.04 $ 17.45 $ 36,300
Foundries 12,390 12.27 $ 19.28 $ 40,110
Employment Services 11,670 0.33 $ 13.98 $ 29,080
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 9,320 1.73 $ 18.18 $ 37,820
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 6,240 3.90 $ 20.11 $ 41,830

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Plastics Product Manufacturing 82,040 14.04 $ 17.45 $ 36,300
Foundries 12,390 12.27 $ 19.28 $ 40,110
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 6,240 3.90 $ 20.11 $ 41,830
Rubber Product Manufacturing 4,630 3.61 $ 19.16 $ 39,850
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 9,320 1.73 $ 18.18 $ 37,820

Top paying industries for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 1,190 0.06 $ 29.16 $ 60,650
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 220 0.01 $ 26.51 $ 55,140
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 1,230 1.57 $ 23.25 $ 48,350
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 1,260 0.27 $ 22.51 $ 46,820
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 250 0.28 $ 22.10 $ 45,960


Geographic profile for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Ohio 14,760 2.84 2.45 $ 17.66 $ 36,730
Michigan 14,690 3.62 3.12 $ 17.10 $ 35,570
Indiana 13,480 4.52 3.90 $ 19.64 $ 40,850
California 11,710 0.71 0.61 $ 18.62 $ 38,720
Illinois 10,440 1.86 1.60 $ 19.36 $ 40,280


Map of location quotient of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Indiana 13,480 4.52 3.90 $ 19.64 $ 40,850
Michigan 14,690 3.62 3.12 $ 17.10 $ 35,570
Wisconsin 8,280 3.00 2.59 $ 18.37 $ 38,220
Ohio 14,760 2.84 2.45 $ 17.66 $ 36,730
Kentucky 4,430 2.41 2.08 $ 17.20 $ 35,780


Map of annual mean wages of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Maine 210 0.35 0.30 $ 23.54 $ 48,950
Montana 320 0.68 0.59 $ 21.83 $ 45,410
Massachusetts 2,180 0.64 0.55 $ 20.30 $ 42,220
Maryland 440 0.17 0.15 $ 20.29 $ 42,210
Washington 2,170 0.68 0.58 $ 20.15 $ 41,920



Map of employment of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 7,920 1.87 1.61 $ 19.61 $ 40,780
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 5,760 3.20 2.76 $ 16.94 $ 35,240
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,670 0.82 0.71 $ 18.28 $ 38,020
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 3,280 6.46 5.58 $ 16.98 $ 35,320
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,840 1.56 1.34 $ 19.70 $ 40,970
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 2,620 1.71 1.48 $ 18.19 $ 37,820
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 2,390 1.97 1.70 $ 19.52 $ 40,590
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 2,190 2.27 1.96 $ 17.84 $ 37,120
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 2,030 2.58 2.23 $ 17.97 $ 37,370
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,890 0.53 0.45 $ 16.45 $ 34,220


Map of location quotient of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 640 14.88 12.85 $ 16.56 $ 34,440
Evansville, IN-KY 1,380 9.39 8.10 $ 17.75 $ 36,910
Auburn-Opelika, AL 470 8.03 6.93 $ 17.83 $ 37,080
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 1,140 7.75 6.69 $ 16.28 $ 33,860
Sheboygan, WI 440 7.58 6.55 $ 18.73 $ 38,950
Burlington, NC 450 7.37 6.36 $ 17.24 $ 35,850
Erie, PA 840 7.35 6.35 $ 17.44 $ 36,260
Bloomington, IN 500 7.31 6.31 (8) (8)
Columbus, IN 350 7.26 6.27 $ 17.61 $ 36,620
Michigan City-La Porte, IN 270 7.07 6.10 $ 15.61 $ 32,470


Map of annual mean wages of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Portsmouth, NH-ME 160 1.85 1.60 $ 24.94 $ 51,870
Cedar Rapids, IA 70 0.53 0.45 $ 24.75 $ 51,490
New Bern, NC 90 2.19 1.89 $ 23.28 $ 48,430
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 130 0.39 0.34 $ 22.92 $ 47,670
Boulder, CO 210 1.15 0.99 $ 22.67 $ 47,150
Albany, OR 90 1.90 1.64 $ 22.50 $ 46,790
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 270 0.25 0.22 $ 22.24 $ 46,260
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 780 0.35 0.30 $ 21.79 $ 45,320
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 1,190 4.43 3.82 $ 21.53 $ 44,780
Oklahoma City, OK 250 0.41 0.35 $ 21.42 $ 44,560

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 2,560 12.52 10.80 $ 21.41 $ 44,520
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 2,480 7.90 6.82 $ 17.59 $ 36,600
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 2,210 12.05 10.40 $ 21.35 $ 44,410
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 2,080 8.68 7.49 $ 19.18 $ 39,890
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 1,350 8.28 7.15 $ 16.80 $ 34,950

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 2,560 12.52 10.80 $ 21.41 $ 44,520
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 2,210 12.05 10.40 $ 21.35 $ 44,410
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 2,080 8.68 7.49 $ 19.18 $ 39,890
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 1,350 8.28 7.15 $ 16.80 $ 34,950
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 2,480 7.90 6.82 $ 17.59 $ 36,600

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
South Illinois nonmetropolitan area 640 7.51 6.49 $ 24.73 $ 51,430
Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 150 1.68 1.45 $ 22.49 $ 46,780
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 120 3.78 3.26 $ 21.71 $ 45,160
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 2,560 12.52 10.80 $ 21.41 $ 44,520
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 2,210 12.05 10.40 $ 21.35 $ 44,410


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022