Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California
Considering working as a Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California? Here’s what the data says. Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
What do Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Make in California?
For molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic working in California, the typical annual salary is $45,380 per year (or roughly $21.82/hour).Annual wages span from $36,050 at the 10th percentile to $61,000 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| 25th percentile | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| Median (50th) | $45,380 | $21.82 |
| 75th percentile | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| 90th percentile | $61,000 | $29.33 |
The job concentration index in California nationwide is 0.53, meaning fewer molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn a median of $60,853 per year ($29.26/hour), lower than the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 211,132 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.. In California alone, about 9,650 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 1,820 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
Top California Metros for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The largest metro-area employers of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,940 | $45,950 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,900 | $41,540 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 680 | $45,610 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 670 | $49,100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 280 | $52,460 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 260 | $46,230 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 260 | $44,310 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 250 | $45,730 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 230 | $44,630 |
| Fresno, CA | 200 | $41,260 |
| Vallejo, CA | 150 | $49,910 |
| Modesto, CA | 120 | $45,210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 100 | $45,930 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 100 | $46,100 |
| Chico, CA | 40 | $40,810 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 40 | $43,070 |
Top States for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Employment
The table below shows the states where the most molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Illinois | 13,180 |
| Michigan | 12,920 |
| Ohio | 12,710 |
| California | 9,650 |
| Wisconsin | 9,320 |
| Indiana | 8,430 |
| Texas | 7,750 |
| North Carolina | 7,410 |
| Pennsylvania | 6,890 |
| Alabama | 6,200 |
| Kentucky | 4,740 |
| Massachusetts | 4,080 |
| Missouri | 3,960 |
| New York | 3,390 |
| Tennessee | 3,090 |
| New Jersey | 3,030 |
| Minnesota | 2,840 |
| Utah | 2,830 |
| South Carolina | 2,800 |
| Georgia | 2,790 |
Highest-Paying States for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
The highest-paying states for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $70,390 |
| Maine | $59,050 |
| Nevada | $52,900 |
| Colorado | $51,900 |
| Maryland | $50,990 |
| Washington | $47,640 |
| Minnesota | $47,110 |
| Delaware | $46,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,300 |
| Utah | $45,820 |
Skills
Key molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
- Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
- Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
- Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
- Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
- Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
- Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
- Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
- Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
- Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
- Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
Related Careers
Careers similar to molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic include:
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also Known As
Aluminum Molder, Aluminum Molding Machine Operator, Automatic Casting Machine Operator, Babbitt Spinner, Babbitter, Bench Molder, Bender Machine Operator, Bit Bender, Blaster, Blow Mold Operator, Blow Molding Machine Tender, Blow Molding Operator, Bonding Machine Operator, Brake Drum Molder, Brass Molder.
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: 51-4072.00