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Automotive Parts Manufacturing
Magna, Lear, Aptiv
Home / All Jobs / Trades / Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
These workers set up and run machines that shape molten metal or heated plastic into parts, then keep a close eye on temperature, pressure, timing, and part quality. The job is distinct because small setup mistakes can waste material or jam a production run, so it blends machine operation with constant inspection and quick adjustments. The tradeoff is clear: the work is accessible without college, but the pay is modest and the occupation is slowly shrinking as plants automate more of the routine tasks.
Also known as Injection Molding OperatorDie Casting Machine OperatorMolding Machine SetterCasting Machine TenderCoremaking Machine Operator
Median Salary
$41,230
Mean $44,130
U.S. Workforce
~155K
15.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-3.8%
154.6K to 148.8K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~155K workers, with a median annual pay of $41,230 and roughly 15.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 154.6 K in 2024 to 148.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Production Helper / Machine Trainee and can progress toward Production Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring, Injection Molding, Die Casting & Coremaking Machine Controls, and Precision Measuring Tools (Calipers, Micrometers & Gauges), paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Speaking clearly, and Attention to detail.
Core Responsibilities
- Read work orders, drawings, and setup sheets to choose the right machine settings for the part being made.
- Check finished pieces with measuring tools and your eyes to catch cracks, warping, surface flaws, or wrong dimensions.
- Watch the machine while it runs, then change temperature, pressure, or cycle settings when parts start drifting out of spec.
- Clean molds and dies, smooth rough spots, and clear jams so the equipment keeps producing usable parts.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Read work orders, drawings, and setup sheets to choose the right machine settings for the part being made.
02 Check finished pieces with measuring tools and your eyes to catch cracks, warping, surface flaws, or wrong dimensions.
03 Watch the machine while it runs, then change temperature, pressure, or cycle settings when parts start drifting out of spec.
04 Clean molds and dies, smooth rough spots, and clear jams so the equipment keeps producing usable parts.
05 Hook up cooling lines, lubricate moving parts, and do basic upkeep to keep the machine from overheating or wearing out.
06 Record readings from gauges and meters and report problems to supervisors when a run needs attention or a machine starts acting up.
Industries That Hire
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Plastics Packaging and Products
Amcor, Berry Global, Sealed Air
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Metal Casting and Foundries
Waupaca Foundry, Ryobi, Neenah Foundry
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Appliances and Consumer Goods
Whirlpool, GE Appliances, Electrolux
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Aerospace and Industrial Components
Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Spirit AeroSystems
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter this field without college; the typical starting point is a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate on-the-job training.
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The work is hands-on and concrete, so you can see when a setup is right and when a part needs to be corrected.
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There are still steady hiring opportunities, with 15.9K annual openings expected even as the occupation slowly shrinks.
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Pay is decent for a job that does not require a degree, with a median wage of $41,230 and a mean wage of $44,130.
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The skills you build—reading work orders, measuring parts, and watching machine performance—can transfer to quality, setup, or maintenance roles.
Challenges
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The pay ceiling is fairly modest for the amount of responsibility, and the median wage of $41,230 is not high compared with more technical manufacturing jobs.
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Employment is projected to fall 3.8% over the 2024-2034 period, dropping from about 154.6K jobs to 148.8K, so the field is not growing.
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Automation is a real threat because modern plants can reduce the need for people to tend every cycle by hand.
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The work can be physically repetitive and tied to noisy, hot equipment, with long periods of standing, cleaning, and part handling.
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Career growth can stall unless you add extra skills in maintenance, quality control, or supervision, because many plants keep the routine operator work tightly defined.
Career Progression
Production Helper / Machine Trainee
0-1 years
$30K-$36K
Starts with loading materials, watching basic machine cycles, and learning safety and quality checks.
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Operator
1-4 years
$39K-$47K
Runs standard setups, checks parts, and makes routine adjustments to keep production moving.
Senior Setter / Lead Operator THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$47K-$56K
Handles changeovers, troubleshoots recurring defects, and helps train newer operators.
Production Supervisor
8+ years
$56K-$72K
Oversees shift output, staffing, and quality problems across several machines or lines.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The main entry path, held by 56.98% of workers in this occupation, usually paired with moderate on-the-job training.
Less than a high school diploma plus employer training
A sizable route into the field, used by 30.31% of workers, because some employers hire directly and teach the machine skills on the job.
Post-secondary certificate in manufacturing or plastics processing
A shorter credential path, held by 11.15% of workers, can help you stand out when a plant wants people who already know basic production equipment.
Short industrial training or certification in machine safety and quality control
This is an alternative way in for people who want faster hiring into plant work, especially if they add safety, measurement, or equipment-operation credentials.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring 68%
Injection Molding, Die Casting & Coremaking Machine Controls 66%
Precision Measuring Tools (Calipers, Micrometers & Gauges) 65%
Active Listening 65%
Operation and Control 62%
Monitoring 62%
Reading Blueprints, Work Orders & Setup Sheets 62%
Quality Control Analysis 60%
Machine Cleaning, Lubrication & Basic Maintenance 60%
Soft Skills
Active listeningSpeaking clearlyAttention to detailTeamworkProblem-solvingDependability Job Outlook and Trends
+-3.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
15.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 154.6K to 148.8 K over the next decade, representing -3.8% growth. Around 15.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.