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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

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)
165,820 1.3 % $ 19.08 $ 39,690 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 $ 13.86 $ 15.22 $ 17.81 $ 21.93 $ 26.40
Annual Wage (2) $ 28,830 $ 31,650 $ 37,050 $ 45,620 $ 54,900


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 85,980 14.05 $ 18.37 $ 38,200
Foundries 13,860 13.17 $ 20.46 $ 42,560
Employment Services 11,210 0.29 $ 15.74 $ 32,740
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 8,380 1.54 $ 19.41 $ 40,370
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5,910 3.65 $ 21.72 $ 45,170

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 85,980 14.05 $ 18.37 $ 38,200
Foundries 13,860 13.17 $ 20.46 $ 42,560
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing 5,910 3.65 $ 21.72 $ 45,170
Rubber Product Manufacturing 3,710 2.79 $ 19.28 $ 40,100
Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media 180 1.62 $ 19.02 $ 39,550

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) 1,110 0.05 $ 30.08 $ 62,560
Building Finishing Contractors (8) (8) $ 25.85 $ 53,770
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 60 0.05 $ 25.08 $ 52,170
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing 710 0.88 $ 24.33 $ 50,610
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 790 0.19 $ 23.83 $ 49,560


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 2022


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 14,460 2.69 2.40 $ 18.25 $ 37,950
Michigan 13,590 3.20 2.85 $ 18.36 $ 38,190
Indiana 12,120 3.92 3.50 $ 19.38 $ 40,310
California 11,090 0.63 0.56 $ 20.60 $ 42,850
Illinois 10,420 1.77 1.58 $ 19.94 $ 41,480


Map of location quotient of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2022


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 12,120 3.92 3.50 $ 19.38 $ 40,310
Wisconsin 9,370 3.32 2.97 $ 19.62 $ 40,820
Alabama 6,500 3.24 2.89 $ 18.20 $ 37,850
Michigan 13,590 3.20 2.85 $ 18.36 $ 38,190
Ohio 14,460 2.69 2.40 $ 18.25 $ 37,950


Map of annual mean wages of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2022


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 270 0.44 0.39 $ 23.76 $ 49,410
Maryland 400 0.15 0.14 $ 23.24 $ 48,340
Utah 3,760 2.31 2.06 $ 21.22 $ 44,130
Colorado 2,270 0.82 0.73 $ 21.07 $ 43,820
Minnesota 3,010 1.06 0.95 $ 20.96 $ 43,600



Map of employment of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


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 8,130 1.84 1.64 $ 20.08 $ 41,760
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 4,840 2.59 2.31 $ 18.88 $ 39,280
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,440 0.73 0.65 $ 20.60 $ 42,850
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 2,970 5.40 4.82 $ 18.26 $ 37,970
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,610 0.28 0.25 $ 19.56 $ 40,680
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 2,470 2.50 2.23 $ 18.21 $ 37,880
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,420 0.64 0.57 $ 17.06 $ 35,480
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,350 1.25 1.11 $ 21.08 $ 43,850
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 2,180 2.73 2.43 $ 19.34 $ 40,230
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 2,150 1.69 1.51 $ 20.61 $ 42,870


Map of location quotient of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


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 650 14.95 13.34 $ 17.97 $ 37,370
Evansville, IN-KY 1,480 9.89 8.82 $ 18.35 $ 38,160
Sheboygan, WI 560 9.60 8.56 $ 19.03 $ 39,590
Auburn-Opelika, AL 580 9.44 8.42 $ 18.74 $ 38,980
Columbus, IN 460 9.39 8.38 $ 17.79 $ 37,000
Tuscaloosa, AL 850 8.51 7.59 $ 19.53 $ 40,630
Michigan City-La Porte, IN 320 8.15 7.27 $ 19.20 $ 39,930
Muskegon, MI 470 7.75 6.91 $ 18.39 $ 38,250
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 650 7.11 6.34 $ 20.13 $ 41,860
Greeley, CO 740 6.89 6.14 $ 21.67 $ 45,070


Map of annual mean wages of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


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 150 1.71 1.53 $ 26.83 $ 55,810
Albany, OR 90 1.94 1.73 $ 26.60 $ 55,320
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 250 0.22 0.20 $ 25.07 $ 52,150
Cedar Rapids, IA 80 0.60 0.53 $ 24.30 $ 50,550
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 560 0.23 0.21 $ 23.33 $ 48,520
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV 230 2.25 2.00 $ 23.28 $ 48,420
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 210 0.16 0.14 $ 23.23 $ 48,310
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 1,280 4.61 4.11 $ 23.11 $ 48,070
Owensboro, KY 160 3.08 2.75 $ 23.01 $ 47,860
New Bern, NC 110 2.38 2.12 $ 22.90 $ 47,630

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 2,320 11.10 9.90 $ 21.77 $ 45,280
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 2,220 6.90 6.16 $ 17.96 $ 37,370
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 1,990 8.09 7.22 $ 19.25 $ 40,040
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 1,440 8.74 7.79 $ 18.25 $ 37,960
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 1,430 7.05 6.29 $ 19.85 $ 41,290

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 2,320 11.10 9.90 $ 21.77 $ 45,280
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 1,440 8.74 7.79 $ 18.25 $ 37,960
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 1,990 8.09 7.22 $ 19.25 $ 40,040
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 1,420 7.71 6.88 $ 20.66 $ 42,960
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 800 7.41 6.61 $ 17.85 $ 37,130

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 Georgia nonmetropolitan area 50 0.25 0.22 $ 22.51 $ 46,830
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 80 0.43 0.38 $ 22.38 $ 46,550
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 190 1.61 1.44 $ 22.33 $ 46,450
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 2,320 11.10 9.90 $ 21.77 $ 45,280
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 240 1.63 1.45 $ 21.64 $ 45,010


About May 2022 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 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023