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

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

Also called: Core Machine Operator, Die Cast Technician, Diecast Machine Operator, Machine Operator, Mold Setter, Mold Technician, Molder, Process Technician, Production Technician, Aluminum Molder, Aluminum Molding Machine Operator, Automatic Casting Machine Operator, Babbitt Spinner, Babbitter, Bench Molder, Bender Machine Operator, Bit Bender, Blaster, Blow Mold Operator, Blow Molding Machine Tender, Blow Molding Operator, Bonding Machine Operator, Brake Drum Molder, Brass Molder, Bullet Casting Operator, Bullet-Slug Casting Machine Operator, Cake-Press Operator, Cast Associate, Caster, Caster Operator, Casting Machine Operator, Casting Machine Set-Up Operator, Casting Molder, Casting Operator, Casting Room Operator, Casting Wheel Operator, Centrifugal Casting Machine Operator, Centrifugal Casting Machine Tender, Composite Technician, Compression Molding Machine Operator, Compression Molding Machine Setter, Compression Molding Machine Tender, Compression Operator, Contact Lens Molder, Core Blower, Core Carrier, Core Filer, Core Fitter, Core Mounter, Core Placer, Coremaking Machine Setter, Corrugator, Corrugator Operator, Diamond Blender, Die Caster, Die Casting Machine Operator, Die Casting Machine Setter, Die Maintenance Technician (Die Maintenance Tech), Direct Chill Casting Operator (DC Casting Operator), Eight Arm Operator, Flask Fitter, Flask Maker, Foundry Pattern Molder, Grey Iron Molder, Hand Bender, Hopper Operator, Hot Molder, Injection Mold Operator, Injection Molding Machine Operator, Injection Molding Machine Setter, Injection Molding Machine Tender, Injection Molding Machinist, Injection Molding Maintenance Technician (Injection Molding Maintenance Tech), Injection Molding Operator, Injection Molding Process Technician, Injection Operator, Injection Press Operator, Ironmolder, Lead Die Molder, Lead Ingot Molder, Machine Coremaker, Machine Molder, Manufacturing Assistant, Manufacturing Associate, Manufacturing Operator, Mat Maker, Mat Roller, Metal Base Blocker, Metal Caster, Metal Molder, Mogul Operator, Mold Machine Operator, Mold Maintenance Technician (Mold Maintenance Tech), Mold Maker, Mold Operator, Molding Machine Operator, Molding Machine Setter, Molding Process Technician, Nonferrous Metal Caster, Nonferrous Metal Precision Pattern and Die Caster, Pattern Molder, Pig Machine Operator, Pilling Machine Operator, Pipe Coremaker, Pipe Covering Molder, Plastic Cup Fabricating Machine Operator, Plastic Duplicator, Plastic Joint Maker, Plastic Molder, Plastic Process Technician, Plate Corrector, Plate Molder, Polymerization Oven Operator, Polymerization Oven Tender, Preform Machine Operator, Punch Molder, Reclamation Kettle Tender, Remelter, Rotor Casting Machine Operator, Rotor Casting Machine Setup Operator, Sand Slinger, Sand Slinger Operator, Setter, Setup Technician, Shell Mold Bonding Machine Operator, Shell Molder, Shell Molding Roller Blast Operator, Shift Operator, Shot Dropper, Spout Worker, Steel Molder, Thermoplastic Technician, Turning and Beading Machine Operator, Typecasting Machine Operator, Vacuum Caster, Vacuum Plastic Forming Machine Operator, Vanstone Machine Operator, Wet End Operator, Wheel Molder

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Quality Control Analysis
Time Management
Active Learning
Social Perceptiveness
Troubleshooting

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (56.98% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

37,270–51,020 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-4072.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (56.98% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

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