Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-9195BLS OEWS May 2025
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.
National median · BLS
$46,170
▲ +1.05%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$47,500
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
33,190
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$35,850
25th
$39,280
Median (50th)
$46,170
75th
$53,000
90th — top pay
$61,530
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
BLS projects employment of molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 5,100 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
43,000 → 45,500
+2,500 jobs
Projected change
+5.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
5,100
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
22.7% of workers (2025)
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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
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Skills & tools
Skills needed for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operation and Control3.0
Active Listening2.9
Operations Monitoring2.9
Reading Comprehension2.9
Monitoring2.8
Quality Control Analysis2.8
Speaking2.8
Coordination2.6
Critical Thinking2.6
Social Perceptiveness2.6
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing3.3
Mechanical3.0
Administration and Management2.9
English Language2.6
Mathematics2.6
Engineering and Technology2.5
Education and Training2.4
Customer and Personal Service2.4
Software and technology used
Dassault Systemes SolidWorksMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordInventory control softwareMastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing softwareTimekeeping software
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 molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic do
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.
Also called
CasterMold MechanicMolderMolding Line OperatorBed LaborerInjection Molding Machine OperatorMachine OperatorPress Operator
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 Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $46,170.
