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Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$45690	5500	6.2%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$45690

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

5500

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

6.2%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Detailed Work Activities

Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
Trim excess material from workpieces.
Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products.
Build production molds.
Clean workpieces or finished products.
Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces.
Remove workpieces from molds.
Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
Stack finished items for further processing or shipment.
Load items into ovens or furnaces.
Assemble metal or plastic parts or products.
Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
Operate heating or drying equipment.
Select production equipment according to product specifications.
Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
Repair templates, patterns, or molds.
Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
Adjust position of molds during processing.
Place materials into molds.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
Trim or remove excess material, using scrapers, knives, or band saws.
Brush or spray mold surfaces with parting agents or insert paper into molds to ensure smoothness and prevent sticking or seepage.
Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products.
Assemble, insert, and adjust wires, tubes, cores, fittings, rods, or patterns into molds, using hand tools and depth gauges.
Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts.
Separate models or patterns from molds and examine products for accuracy.
Set the proper operating temperature for each casting.
Load or stack filled molds in ovens, dryers, or curing boxes, or on storage racks or carts.
Align and assemble parts to produce completed products, using gauges and hand tools.
Operate and adjust controls of heating equipment to melt material or to cure, dry, or bake filled molds.
Select sizes and types of molds according to instructions.
Patch broken edges or fractures, using clay or plaster.
Withdraw cores or other loose mold members after castings solidify.
Repair mold defects, such as cracks or broken edges, using patterns, mold boxes, or hand tools.
Measure and cut products to specified dimensions, using measuring and cutting instruments.
Smooth surfaces of molds, using scraping tools or sandpaper.
Measure ingredients and mix molding, casting material, or sealing compounds to prescribed consistencies, according to formulas.
Remove excess materials and level and smooth wet mold mixtures.
Verify dimensions of products, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, vernier gauges, or protractors.
Bore holes or cut grates, risers, or pouring spouts in molds, using power tools.
Tap or tilt molds to ensure uniform distribution of materials.
Construct or form molds for use in casting clay or plaster objects, using plaster, fiberglass, rubber, casting machines, patterns, or flasks.
Pour, pack, spread, or press plaster, concrete, or other materials into or around models or molds.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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