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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

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)
158,980 1.3 % $ 20.22 $ 42,060 0.3 %

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 $ 14.56 $ 16.78 $ 18.69 $ 22.75 $ 27.87
Annual Wage (2) $ 30,280 $ 34,900 $ 38,870 $ 47,320 $ 57,970


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 78,020 12.88 $ 19.72 $ 41,020
Foundries 14,200 13.23 $ 22.13 $ 46,040
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 7,910 1.42 $ 20.22 $ 42,060
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5,770 3.55 $ 20.81 $ 43,280
Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing 5,170 1.53 $ 22.40 $ 46,590

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)
Foundries 14,200 13.23 $ 22.13 $ 46,040
Plastics Product Manufacturing 78,020 12.88 $ 19.72 $ 41,020
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5,770 3.55 $ 20.81 $ 43,280
Rubber Product Manufacturing 3,250 2.41 $ 19.92 $ 41,440
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 1,060 1.78 $ 25.92 $ 53,910

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, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) 1,150 0.05 $ 31.09 $ 64,670
Building Finishing Contractors (8) (8) $ 27.03 $ 56,220
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 260 0.02 $ 26.70 $ 55,530
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 1,060 1.78 $ 25.92 $ 53,910
Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing 230 0.37 $ 25.76 $ 53,580


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 2023


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)
Michigan 12,480 2.87 2.74 $ 19.38 $ 40,300
Illinois 11,880 1.98 1.89 $ 20.32 $ 42,260
California 11,610 0.65 0.62 $ 22.17 $ 46,110
Wisconsin 11,100 3.85 3.67 $ 20.56 $ 42,760
Indiana 10,270 3.25 3.11 $ 20.16 $ 41,940


Map of location quotient of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2023


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)
Wisconsin 11,100 3.85 3.67 $ 20.56 $ 42,760
Indiana 10,270 3.25 3.11 $ 20.16 $ 41,940
Michigan 12,480 2.87 2.74 $ 19.38 $ 40,300
Kentucky 5,110 2.61 2.49 $ 22.23 $ 46,240
Alabama 4,940 2.41 2.30 $ 19.14 $ 39,820


Map of annual mean wages of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2023


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)
Hawaii 140 0.22 0.21 $ 32.37 $ 67,340
Maryland 340 0.13 0.12 $ 25.32 $ 52,660
Montana 290 0.58 0.55 $ 24.97 $ 51,940
Maine 380 0.61 0.59 $ 23.90 $ 49,710
Vermont 150 0.48 0.46 $ 23.66 $ 49,210



Map of employment of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2023


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 9,530 2.11 2.02 $ 20.30 $ 42,210
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 4,620 2.43 2.32 $ 19.35 $ 40,260
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,560 0.74 0.70 $ 22.09 $ 45,950
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,790 0.29 0.28 $ 19.81 $ 41,200
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 2,740 3.37 3.22 $ 19.77 $ 41,120
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 2,630 4.91 4.69 $ 19.80 $ 41,180
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 2,590 0.94 0.90 $ 20.68 $ 43,010
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,550 1.33 1.27 $ 21.34 $ 44,390
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,970 0.50 0.47 $ 19.60 $ 40,770
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 1,970 1.50 1.43 $ 20.08 $ 41,770


Map of location quotient of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2023


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)
Sheboygan, WI 950 15.84 15.13 $ 23.27 $ 48,400
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 490 11.06 10.56 $ 19.78 $ 41,140
Evansville, IN-KY 1,440 9.43 9.01 $ 19.59 $ 40,750
Columbus, IN 430 8.41 8.03 $ 18.56 $ 38,610
Muskegon, MI 510 8.21 7.84 $ 21.10 $ 43,890
Erie, PA 960 8.08 7.71 $ 17.18 $ 35,730
Auburn-Opelika, AL 500 7.82 7.47 $ 19.13 $ 39,800
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 1,000 7.31 6.98 $ 17.21 $ 35,790
Michigan City-La Porte, IN 270 6.76 6.46 $ 19.92 $ 41,440
Leominster-Gardner, MA 330 6.47 6.18 $ 19.05 $ 39,630


Map of annual mean wages of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2023


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 140 1.47 1.41 $ 28.80 $ 59,900
Warner Robins, GA 40 0.52 0.50 $ 26.98 $ 56,110
Albany, OR 120 2.45 2.34 $ 26.04 $ 54,150
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 340 0.30 0.28 $ 25.55 $ 53,140
Owensboro, KY 160 3.06 2.92 $ 25.08 $ 52,160
Bakersfield, CA 100 0.30 0.29 $ 24.58 $ 51,130
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 650 0.27 0.26 $ 24.57 $ 51,110
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 160 0.12 0.12 $ 24.51 $ 50,980
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV 190 1.84 1.76 $ 24.34 $ 50,640
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 930 3.22 3.08 $ 24.21 $ 50,360

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 2,000 9.42 9.00 $ 22.42 $ 46,630
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 1,860 8.98 8.58 $ 20.63 $ 42,910
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 1,600 9.37 8.95 $ 20.35 $ 42,330
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 1,410 4.33 4.14 $ 19.68 $ 40,920
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 1,390 5.60 5.35 $ 22.16 $ 46,100

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 2,000 9.42 9.00 $ 22.42 $ 46,630
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 1,600 9.37 8.95 $ 20.35 $ 42,330
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 1,860 8.98 8.58 $ 20.63 $ 42,910
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 1,090 5.93 5.66 $ 22.61 $ 47,020
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 630 5.63 5.37 $ 19.03 $ 39,580

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)
West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 660 4.36 4.16 $ 28.68 $ 59,650
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 200 1.35 1.29 $ 28.09 $ 58,420
Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 140 1.45 1.39 $ 25.78 $ 53,620
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 24.67 $ 51,310
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 150 1.28 1.22 $ 23.25 $ 48,360


About May 2023 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 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024