Foundry mold and coremakers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| Mean (average) | $49,860 | $23.97 |
| 90th percentile | $62,640 | $30.12 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Foundry mold and coremakers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 33 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $51,040 | $37,180 | $55,340 | 850 | 4.87 |
| Arkansas | $42,200 | $37,230 | $63,060 | 60 | 0.59 |
| California | $46,930 | $38,280 | $61,970 | 420 | 0.28 |
| Colorado | $42,240 | $39,270 | $48,440 | 40 | 0.18 |
| Connecticut | $47,310 | $36,290 | $104,080 | 110 | 0.78 |
| Florida | $38,330 | $34,780 | $70,160 | 140 | 0.17 |
| Georgia | $46,220 | $37,290 | $63,340 | 220 | 0.55 |
| Illinois | $57,110 | $41,240 | $62,640 | 390 | 0.78 |
| Indiana | $49,860 | $37,870 | $59,920 | 720 | 2.73 |
| Iowa | $49,060 | $43,250 | $57,580 | 480 | 3.76 |
| Kansas | $47,910 | $32,120 | $55,000 | 150 | 1.29 |
| Kentucky | $43,610 | $26,940 | $62,640 | ||
| Massachusetts | $55,940 | $47,440 | $77,730 | 60 | 0.2 |
| Michigan | $46,150 | $38,180 | $59,540 | 2,050 | 5.67 |
| Minnesota | $56,840 | $51,020 | $76,650 | 470 | 1.95 |
| Mississippi | $39,560 | $29,420 | $46,660 | 70 | 0.73 |
| Missouri | $61,480 | $51,630 | $61,680 | 590 | 2.44 |
| Nebraska | $45,910 | $38,960 | $57,500 | 90 | 1.03 |
| New Hampshire | $43,210 | $37,940 | $54,890 | 40 | 0.63 |
| New Jersey | $55,210 | $49,610 | $62,710 | 330 | 0.92 |
| New York | $54,380 | $39,220 | $73,390 | 110 | 0.14 |
| North Carolina | $46,910 | $32,270 | $62,100 | 260 | 0.63 |
| Ohio | $49,040 | $39,420 | $64,080 | 980 | 2.15 |
| Oklahoma | $43,550 | $35,670 | $47,600 | 120 | 0.88 |
| Oregon | $67,060 | $48,790 | $79,610 | 270 | 1.64 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,750 | $38,280 | $57,900 | 1,230 | 2.47 |
| South Carolina | $41,100 | $36,680 | $48,910 | 150 | 0.77 |
| Tennessee | $37,310 | $33,790 | $45,400 | 190 | 0.69 |
| Texas | $42,190 | $35,020 | $51,770 | 230 | 0.2 |
| Utah | $44,970 | $35,100 | $61,000 | 110 | 0.78 |
| Virginia | $43,130 | $40,090 | $71,410 | 110 | 0.31 |
| Washington | $48,440 | $36,940 | $63,500 | 160 | 0.53 |
| Wisconsin | $44,130 | $32,480 | $62,490 | 1,270 | 5.27 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for foundry mold and coremakers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for foundry mold and coremakers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Ironworking/Ironworker CIP 48.0509
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- CNC Software Mastercam
- Inventory tracking software
- Machine control software
- PTC Creo Parametric
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Core Machine Operator, Core Maker, Core Stripper, Coremaker, Green Sand Molder, Mold Maker, Mold Operator, Molder, No Bake Molder, Sand Molder.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do foundry mold and coremakers make?
The national median annual wage for foundry mold and coremakers was $48,110 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,160 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $62,640. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do foundry mold and coremakers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is foundry mold and coremakers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of foundry mold and coremakers to change -23.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay foundry mold and coremakers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oregon ($67,060), Missouri ($61,480), Illinois ($57,110). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.