Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries. Excludes “Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” (51-4072) and “Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic” (51-9195).
National median · BLS
$48,110
▲ +5.27%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$49,860
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
12,790
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$37,160
25th
$41,870
Median (50th)
$48,110
75th
$57,350
90th — top pay
$62,640
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Foundry Mold and Coremakers
BLS projects employment of foundry mold and coremakers to decline 23% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
12,700 → 9,800
-2,900 jobs
Projected change
-23%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What foundry mold and coremakers do
Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces.
Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns.
Airset CasterAirset MolderBond RunnerCore BakerCore DrierCore MicroarchitectCore Oven TenderCore PasterCore PilerCore RescuerCore SetterCore StackerCore StickerDry MolderDry Sand MolderFoundry FinisherFoundry Mold Assembly and Shake Out WorkerFoundry MolderFoundry TenderFoundry WorkerGolf Club Head FormerHand CoremakerHand FormerHand Spring FormerMold CapperMold CloserMold FinisherMold Tooling Technician (Mold Tooling Tech)Pattern MolderSand CutterSand Cutter OperatorSweep MolderWax Pattern Coater
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Foundry Mold and Coremakers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $48,110.
