Manufacturing career directory

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

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.

Also called: Bed Laborer, Caster, Injection Molding Machine Operator, Machine Operator, Mold Mechanic, Molder, Molding Line Operator, Press Operator, Adobe Block Maker, Adobe Maker, Almond Paste Molder, Artificial Candy Maker, Batter Out, Bit Gatherer, Block Maker, Blower, Bow Maker, Broom Maker, Bunch Maker, Burial Vault Maker, Burial Vault Setter, Candy Roller, Catheter Builder, Cell Builder, Cell Maker, Cement Fittings Maker, Cigar Roller, Clay Modeler, Clay Molder, Clay Thrower, Compo Caster, Composite Technician, Composition Molder, Concrete Float Maker, Concrete Mixer Driver, Concrete Pipe Maker, Concrete Stone Fabricator, Concrete Vault Maker, Corrugator, Cultured Marble Products Maker, Demolder, Denture Model Maker, Denture Packer, Ear Mold Laboratory Technician, Encapsulator, Filling Operator, Furnace Operator, Gatherer, Glass Bender, Glass Block Bender, Glass Blower, Glass Presser, Glass Tube Bender, Hand Box Folder, Hand Buffing Wheel Former, Hand Candle Molder, Hand Cigar Maker, Hand Mold Maker, Hand Molder, Hand Molder and Caster, Hand Packer, Hand Shaper, Hand Tile Maker, Hand Wrapper Operator, Handle Maker, Handmade Tile Artist, Injection Mold Machine Operator, Injection Mold Operator, Injection Mold Process Technician, Injection Mold Technician, Injection Molding Maintenance Technician (Injection Molding Maintenance Tech), Injection Molding Operator, Injection Molding Process Technician (Injection Molding Process Tech), Injection Molding Technician, Ironing Pleater, Jollier, Kiln Furniture Caster, Laundry Tub Maker, Letterer, Loader, Machine Castings Plasterer, Machine-Made Shoe Unit Worker, Mannequin Mold Maker, Mannequin Molder, Mascara Molder, Modeler, Mold Blower, Mold Builder, Mold Drainer, Mold Dresser, Mold Filler, Mold Filling Operator, Mold Maintenance Technician (Mold Maintenance Tech), Mold Maker, Mold Operator, Mold Presser, Mold Setter, Mold Stamper, Mold Technician, Molding Machine Operator, Molding Operator, Molding Process Technician (Molding Process Tech), Mosaic Tile Maker, Musical Instrument Maker, Neon Glass Bender, Neon Glass Blower, Neon Molder, Neon Tube Bender, Nipple Maker, Novelty Candy Maker, Ornamenter, Pattern Caster, Pipe Coremaker, Plaster Caster, Plaster Die Maker, Plaster Maker, Plaster Mold Maker, Plaster Molder, Plaster Pattern Caster, Plastic Injection Mold Operator, Pourer, Precast Molder, Precision Mold Caster, Production Worker, Rawhide Bone Roller, Relief Map Modeler, Roller, Rubber Molder, Rubber Stamp Maker, Sagger Maker, Scagliola Mechanic, Set Up Technician (Set Up Tech), Shaper, Smoother, Stogy Maker, Stogy Roller, Stone Carver, Sweep Molder, Terra Cotta Mold Maker, Terrazzo Tile Maker, Tile Molder, Tobacco Wetter, Toby Maker, Toilet Products Molder, Watch Crystal Molder

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

What the worker does

Skills, machines and equipment

Education and training

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

39,280–53,000 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9195.

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

Career advancement

How Do I Get This Job?

  1. Review the skills and responsibilities above.
  2. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic