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

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$41230	15900	-3.8%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$41230

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

15900

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

-3.8%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

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

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.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
Remove workpieces from molds.
Skim impurities from molten metal.
Trim excess material from workpieces.
Operate grinding equipment.
Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Load materials into production equipment.
Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.
Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
Record operational or production data.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Place materials into molds.
Load items into ovens or furnaces.
Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
Package products for storage or shipment.
Connect supply lines to production equipment or tools.
Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
Clean production equipment.
Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
Maintain production or processing equipment.
Lubricate production equipment.
Repair templates, patterns, or molds.
Replace worn equipment components.
Select production input materials.
Select production equipment according to product specifications.

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

Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
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.
Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses.
Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary.
Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches.
Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation.
Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes.
Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary.
Select coolants and lubricants, and start their flow.
Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.
Maintain inventories of materials.
Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms.
Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
Mix and measure compounds, or weigh premixed compounds, and dump them into machine tubs, cavities, or molds.
Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers.
Preheat tools, dies, plastic materials, or patterns, using blowtorches or other equipment.
Pour or load metal or sand into melting pots, furnaces, molds, or hoppers, using shovels, ladles, or machines.
Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal, using ladles, rakes, hoes, spatulas, or spoons.

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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