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Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $44,350 Median per year · $21.32/hr Most earn $34,170–$61,600

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation.
  • Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary.
  • Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary.
  • Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.
  • Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
  • Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers.

Job outlook

United States
3% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 13,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Plastics product manufacturing50.2%
  • Foundries8.4%
  • Motor vehicle parts manufacturing5.7%
  • Temporary help services5.0%
  • Metalworking machinery manufacturing3.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn the work on the job, usually within about 6 months to a year of hands-on experience.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build reading, math, and shop or technical skills, which help you read machine settings and measurements on the job.

  2. Entry-level Production Worker at a foundry or plastics plant

    3-6 months

    Start by helping run and clean up around molding or casting equipment, learning safety rules and basic machine operation under supervision.

  3. Molding Machine Operator

    6 months to 1 year before this job

    Set up, run, and monitor metal or plastic molding and casting machines, checking that finished parts meet specifications.

Where it can lead

  1. Multiple Machine Tool Setter

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    You learn to set up and run several types of machines at once, which takes more skill with programming, measuring, and troubleshooting.

  2. Tool and Die Maker

    2-4 years of experience first

    You build and repair the molds, dies, and tools the machines use, which usually requires an apprenticeship or certificate in precision machining.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, drafting, or technical classesHands-on classes teach you how machines and tools work and how to read technical drawings.
  • Take math classes, especially geometry and algebraMeasuring, calculating dimensions, and adjusting machine settings all depend on these skills.
  • Join a career or technical student organizationClubs like SkillsUSA-style groups in many schools give you practice with teamwork and hands-on projects.
  • Get a part-time job in a factory, warehouse, or manufacturing setting if you're old enoughEven a short job shows employers you can work safely and reliably around equipment.
  • Learn basic workplace safetyConsider a safety course or certification offered by your school or local community groups, since safety is a key part of this job.

In college

  • Take courses in manufacturing, materials science, or industrial technologyThese classes explain how metals and plastics behave when heated, cooled, and shaped, which is the core of this work.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job at a manufacturing plantHands-on production experience is the most direct way to meet the typical 6-month to 1-year on-the-job experience employers look for.
  • Ask about a manufacturing or machining certificate at your collegeA short certificate in machining, quality control, or CNC basics can help you stand out and move into setter or tool-related roles later.
  • Join an engineering, manufacturing, or technical clubTeamwork on build projects builds problem-solving skills that supervisors value on the production floor.
  • Learn to read blueprints and use basic measuring toolsBeing able to check parts against specifications is a daily task for molding and casting machine operators.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local foundry, plastics manufacturer, or machine shop whether they hire entry-level production workers or offer on-the-job training. Many will train people who show up on time and are willing to learn.
  • Get comfortable with basic math like fractions, decimals, and measurements, since machine operators check part sizes and settings every shift.
  • Show that you can follow safety rules, because molding and casting work involves hot metal, heavy equipment, and hazardous materials.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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