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Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Also called: Machine Operator, Molder, Process Technician, Production Technician

Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

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Median pay BLS, 2025$44,350
Openings a year BLS, 2025–3513,800
Typical education to start BLSHigh school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 Low
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 -3.4%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 3 of its 29 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 3.4% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 3.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 8.4 hires for every 10 job openings in nondurable goods manufacturing, which employs about 55% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 18% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$38k$78knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$39,010$33,310 to $46,9905,900
Arizona$46,930$37,900 to $58,2801,430
Arkansas$44,790$36,170 to $49,6102,520
California$47,240$41,190 to $51,9209,250
Colorado$48,200$43,950 to $55,9702,160
Connecticut$46,240$38,010 to $59,1401,100
Delaware$45,220$37,400 to $48,700120
Florida$38,440$35,750 to $47,3003,290
Georgia$43,250$37,790 to $56,0502,060
Hawaii$77,560$71,240 to $89,170140
Idaho$42,690$34,590 to $47,860520
Illinois$45,500$38,140 to $50,56010,680
Indiana$44,290$35,810 to $53,1108,810
Iowa$45,220$37,230 to $55,5503,670
Kansas$43,050$37,540 to $44,8901,240
Kentucky$47,110$38,970 to $57,6404,340
Louisiana$38,650$34,520 to $45,27090
Maine$59,230$47,580 to $64,500470
Maryland$63,460$47,840 to $67,500230
Massachusetts$42,570$37,460 to $49,3303,810
Michigan$39,490$36,960 to $47,36013,550
Minnesota$49,590$40,270 to $57,7002,230
Mississippi$39,730$35,900 to $48,050550
Missouri$44,120$38,150 to $53,3403,340
Montana$43,340$37,210 to $50,350110
Nebraska$48,500$37,340 to $52,6101,000
Nevada$49,590$40,290 to $67,900350
New Hampshire$47,610$39,070 to $52,4501,080
New Jersey$39,950$34,870 to $48,1102,450
New Mexico$41,990$41,990 to $43,630250
New York$44,500$39,330 to $48,9103,320
North Carolina$41,630$36,150 to $49,4407,570
North Dakota$47,780$45,650 to $53,130160
Ohio$44,830$37,780 to $49,74011,050
Oklahoma$45,680$37,690 to $57,5202,030
Oregon$46,200$37,550 to $59,0401,780
Pennsylvania$46,760$37,410 to $54,4707,000
Puerto Rico$23,080$22,220 to $30,090920
Rhode Island$42,020$34,220 to $50,430430
South Carolina$45,270$37,010 to $50,6503,240
South Dakota$40,750$37,270 to $44,730840
Tennessee$38,820$34,380 to $46,4203,730
Texas$41,140$35,530 to $49,4407,460
Utah$46,750$42,370 to $59,0202,400
Vermont$44,530$37,910 to $47,530110
Virginia$45,370$36,180 to $50,3101,680
Washington$48,290$45,240 to $57,5101,800
West Virginia$42,500$39,990 to $53,570420
Wisconsin$44,230$36,840 to $49,5608,590
Wyoming$38,160$38,160 to $46,86060

Nationally: $44,350. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 3 of its 29 tasks

0 · AI alone could halve the time 3 · AI + software built on it could 26 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
Not much Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary. Not published
Not much Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments. Not published
Not much Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times. Not published
Not much 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. Not published
Not much Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times. Not published
Not much Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished. Not published
See all 29 tasks
Not much Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products. Not published
Not much Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools. Not published
Not much Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines. Not published
Not much Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material. Not published
Not much Cool products after processing to prevent distortion. Not published
Not much Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors. Not published
Not much Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses. Not published
Not much Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms. Not published
Not much Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches. Not published
Not much Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications. Not published
Not much Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes. Not published
Not much Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary. Not published
Not much Preheat tools, dies, plastic materials, or patterns, using blowtorches or other equipment. Not published
AI + software Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation. Not published
Not much Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse. Not published
AI + software Select coolants and lubricants, and start their flow. Not published
AI + software Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary. Not published
Not much Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning. Not published
Not much Maintain inventories of materials. under 0.01%
Not much Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers. Not published
Not much Mix and measure compounds, or weigh premixed compounds, and dump them into machine tubs, cavities, or molds. Not published
Not much Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal, using ladles, rakes, hoes, spatulas, or spoons. Not published
Not much Pour or load metal or sand into melting pots, furnaces, molds, or hoppers, using shovels, ladles, or machines. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 29 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 29 tasks fall under 30 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up3 of 29 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most2 of 30 activities
  • #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
  • #38 Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Position workpieces or materials on equipment 0.61#264 0.17#249
Remove workpieces from production equipment 0.06#323 0.05#284
Select materials or equipment for operations or projects 45#38 19#49
Maintain tools or equipment 4.47#136 1.04#167
Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas 3.36#158 1.16#157
Monitor equipment operation 1.87#203 0.26#236
Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products 0.43#276 0.10#268
Prepare industrial materials for processing or use 0.42#277 0.17#251
Show all 30 activities
Load products, materials, or equipment for transportation or further processing 0.15#308 0.01#322
Operate industrial processing or production equipment 0.13#309 0.02#301
Read documents or materials to inform work processes 197#8 47#28
Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance 20#57 4.31#101
Set up equipment 20#58 4.69#95
Prepare mixtures or solutions 14#71 3.65#105
Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools 6.37#110 1.33#146
Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment 6.04#113 1.15#158
Repair workpieces or products 4.07#144 0.68#186
Inspect completed work or finished products 3.91#150 1.95#130
Mark materials or objects for identification 3.28#160 0.80#172
Apply protective solutions or coatings 3.09#165 0.74#178
Maintain operational records 2.92#170 0.49#209
Cut materials 2.75#173 0.50#207
Disassemble equipment 2.48#182 0.82#170
Repair tools or equipment 1.87#202 0.18#246
Apply materials to fill gaps or imperfections 1.40#217 0.49#210
Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment 1.07#231 0.35#228
Package objects 0.69#258 0.14#259
Move materials, equipment, or supplies 0.65#261 0.09#272
Operate cutting or grinding equipment 0.54#267 0.01#321
Operate lifting or moving equipment 0.09#318 0.02#311
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Operate industrial processing or production equipment” holds 1 task rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 0.13 of every 10,000 conversations, #309 of 332.

How people in this work use Claude

What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations

  • Data or a spreadsheet33%
  • A script or snippet10%
  • Advice or a recommendation5%
  • An analysis or summary5%
  • An app or website5%

How they worked with Claude

95% handed the task off5% worked on it together

76% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.

How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic: -3.4%Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic: -3.4%Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 2,229 moves out

  1. 1 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 11%
  2. 2 Administrative Services Managers (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
  3. 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
  4. 4 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 5%
  5. 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%

Where people moved in from

of 2,284 moves in

  1. 1 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 12%
  2. 2 Administrative Services Managers (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
  3. 3 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 4%
  4. 4 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 4%
  5. 5 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Very high -5.6% 3%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

O*NET survey of workers in this occupation

  • 30% less than high school
  • 57% high school
  • 11% postsecondary certificate
  • 2% some college

O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 36 people answered.

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 14% less than high school
  • 52% high school
  • 21% some college
  • 8% associate's
  • 4% bachelor's
  • 1% master's

Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers” · 3,391 people surveyed.

Why the two can differ

O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

16.9% this occupation

45.3% all occupations

By kindThis occupationAll occupations
a license<0.5%19.1%
a certification<0.5%5.8%
an educational certificate<0.5%2.8%

Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

  • Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
  • Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
  • License Finder ↗ licenses by state
  • Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 6 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” there.

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

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