Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Explore safer careers (5)
Lower estimated automation risk
Why it fits
Fits experienced operators who lead shifts, quality checks, and equipment routines.
Why it fits
Applies practical familiarity with molding and casting equipment to machinery upkeep.
Why it fits
Transfers setup and machine-tending habits to broader metal and plastic machine tools.
Why it fits
Uses metal and plastic part knowledge with additional precision machining training.
Why it fits
Builds on mold, die, and tolerance concepts through a more advanced skilled trade path.
Occupation snapshot
What does this snowflake show?
What's this?
We rate jobs using four factors. These are:
- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions
These are some key things to think about when job hunting.
Risk & user votes
Calculated automation risk
Imminent Risk (81-100%): This occupation appears highly exposed to end-to-end replacement by AI, software, robotics, or other computer-controlled systems. Roles in this range often involve predictable, repeatable, or rules-based work with limited need for human judgement, trust, creativity, or adaptation to messy real-world conditions. This does not mean every job will disappear immediately, but it is a strong signal to consider safer alternatives or start building more resilient skills.
More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.
Human strengths important in this job
These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.
Decision-making and problem solving
Quite importantWhy this matters
What users think
Based on 18 votes
Our visitors have voted that it's probable this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 81% chance of automation.
What do you think the risk of automation is?
What is the likelihood that Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?
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Pay & outlook
Wages
In 2024, the median annual wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was $41,230 ($20 per hour).
The median annual wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic was 16.7% lower than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.
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Wages over time
Growth
The number of 'Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic' job openings is expected to decline 3.8% by 2034
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Total employment, and estimated job openings
Updated projections are due 09-2025.
Volume
As of 2024 there were 154,820 people employed as 'Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic' within the United States.
This represents around 0.10% of the employed workforce across the country
Put another way, around 1 in 995 people are employed as 'Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic'.
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Job description
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
O*NET-SOC code: 51-4072.00
What people are saying (1)
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