Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in California
Considering working as a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in California? Here’s what you need to know. Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
What do Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Make in California?
For a molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic working in California, wages run about $48,390 per year (or about $23.27/hour).Pay can range from $36,120 at the 10th percentile to $72,510 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| 25th percentile | $43,560 | $20.94 |
| Median (50th) | $48,390 | $23.27 |
| 75th percentile | $59,160 | $28.44 |
| 90th percentile | $72,510 | $34.86 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California relative to the national average — is 1.00.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic earn a median of $33,315 per year ($16.02/hour), exceeding the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 156,074 molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic nationwide. In California alone, around 4,090 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 620 molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic.
Top California Metros for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
These are the California metros with the most molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,210 | $48,590 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 640 | $47,140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 420 | $58,630 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 300 | $47,910 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 270 | $47,140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 180 | $61,000 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 180 | $46,190 |
| Fresno, CA | 140 | $46,350 |
| Modesto, CA | 80 | $58,150 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 70 | $45,740 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 60 | $47,000 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 40 | $50,400 |
| Visalia, CA | 40 | $48,290 |
Top States for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Employment
The table below shows the states where the most molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 4,090 |
| Michigan | 1,980 |
| Texas | 1,950 |
| Indiana | 1,740 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,740 |
| Ohio | 1,730 |
| Florida | 1,680 |
| New York | 1,350 |
| Illinois | 1,160 |
| Massachusetts | 1,150 |
| Alabama | 1,140 |
| Washington | 1,100 |
| Tennessee | 930 |
| Missouri | 810 |
| New Jersey | 800 |
| Kansas | 800 |
| Wisconsin | 790 |
| Minnesota | 730 |
| North Carolina | 710 |
| Georgia | 680 |
Highest-Paying States for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Where molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic earn the most: molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $74,780 |
| Maryland | $51,470 |
| New Hampshire | $50,690 |
| New York | $50,470 |
| Connecticut | $50,350 |
| Massachusetts | $49,530 |
| Montana | $49,350 |
| Oregon | $49,290 |
| New Jersey | $49,120 |
| California | $48,390 |
Skills
The most important molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic typically:
- Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
- Trim or remove excess material, using scrapers, knives, or band saws.
- Brush or spray mold surfaces with parting agents or insert paper into molds to ensure smoothness and prevent sticking or seepage.
- Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products.
- Assemble, insert, and adjust wires, tubes, cores, fittings, rods, or patterns into molds, using hand tools and depth gauges.
- Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts.
- Separate models or patterns from molds and examine products for accuracy.
- Set the proper operating temperature for each casting.
- Load or stack filled molds in ovens, dryers, or curing boxes, or on storage racks or carts.
- Align and assemble parts to produce completed products, using gauges and hand tools.
- Operate and adjust controls of heating equipment to melt material or to cure, dry, or bake filled molds.
- Select sizes and types of molds according to instructions.
Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Getting Information
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
Related Careers
Other careers like molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic include:
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Also Known As
Adobe Block Maker, Adobe Maker, Almond Paste Molder, Artificial Candy Maker, Batter Out, Bed Laborer, Bit Gatherer, Block Maker, Blower, Bow Maker, Broom Maker, Bunch Maker, Burial Vault Maker, Burial Vault Setter, Candy Roller.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-9195.00