# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molding-coremaking-and-casting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic
- SOC code: 51-4072.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $44,350 (10th percentile $34,170, 90th percentile $61,600)
- Projected growth: Decline, -3.4%
- Openings a year: 13,800
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 21 |
| Artistic (A) | 6 |
| Social (S) | 1 |
| Enterprising (E) | 1 |
| Conventional (C) | 55 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 89/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 78/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 71/100)
- Getting Information (importance 71/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 68/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 68/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 67/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 63/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 63/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 57/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Quality Control Analysis, Speaking, Time Management, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, Mathematics, English Language, Administration and Management, Physics, Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service

## Also called

Aluminum Molder, Aluminum Molding Machine Operator, Automatic Casting Machine Operator, Babbitt Spinner, Babbitter, Bench Molder, Bender Machine Operator, Bit Bender, Blaster, Blow Mold Operator

## Related careers

- [Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-and-drawing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $47,720 median pay
- [Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molders-shapers-and-casters-except-metal-and-plastic): $46,170 median pay
- [Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-and-forming-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-synthetic-and-glass-fibers): $46,350 median pay
- [Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-forming-pressing-and-compacting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $45,760 median pay
- [Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/multiple-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $47,180 median pay
- [Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forging-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $49,030 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.