Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Mean (average) | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| 90th percentile | $61,530 | $29.58 |
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
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,730 | $30,940 | $51,340 | 820 | 1.83 |
| Arizona | $49,060 | $40,040 | $55,260 | 470 | 0.68 |
| Arkansas | $35,620 | $29,820 | $45,570 | 190 | 0.69 |
| California | $49,190 | $37,790 | $70,720 | 3,590 | 0.92 |
| Colorado | $49,530 | $39,250 | $63,760 | 390 | 0.63 |
| Connecticut | $52,520 | $40,030 | $65,420 | 170 | 0.47 |
| Delaware | $47,940 | $38,700 | $62,700 | 90 | 0.84 |
| Florida | $45,030 | $36,290 | $56,710 | 2,410 | 1.14 |
| Georgia | $47,160 | $33,210 | $64,000 | 760 | 0.73 |
| Hawaii | $55,990 | $34,430 | $87,360 | 40 | 0.29 |
| Idaho | $42,620 | $36,940 | $49,070 | 210 | 1.13 |
| Illinois | $47,180 | $34,900 | $62,080 | 1,230 | 0.95 |
| Indiana | $46,400 | $36,070 | $63,990 | 1,520 | 2.23 |
| Iowa | $46,220 | $30,140 | $59,380 | 340 | 1.03 |
| Kansas | $47,360 | $39,170 | $61,780 | 680 | 2.23 |
| Kentucky | $41,590 | $31,330 | $48,320 | 370 | 0.86 |
| Louisiana | $46,870 | $37,220 | $76,980 | 100 | 0.25 |
| Maine | $48,640 | $42,080 | $57,540 | 120 | 0.88 |
| Maryland | $50,360 | $36,910 | $67,480 | 110 | 0.18 |
| Massachusetts | $50,550 | $37,630 | $72,520 | 1,200 | 1.55 |
| Michigan | $45,250 | $37,020 | $57,080 | 1,470 | 1.56 |
| Minnesota | $45,790 | $38,610 | $58,490 | 900 | 1.43 |
| Mississippi | $37,580 | $24,440 | $50,740 | 210 | 0.86 |
| Missouri | $46,380 | $34,700 | $59,880 | 690 | 1.1 |
| Montana | $57,860 | $47,110 | $62,280 | 150 | 1.38 |
| Nebraska | $46,220 | $39,420 | $57,440 | 240 | 1.08 |
| Nevada | $45,020 | $34,580 | $61,110 | 430 | 1.28 |
| New Hampshire | $51,470 | $37,280 | $67,650 | 160 | 1.13 |
| New Jersey | $47,360 | $38,160 | $71,780 | 620 | 0.68 |
| New Mexico | $46,970 | $35,320 | $54,080 | ||
| New York | $45,940 | $36,850 | $64,850 | 1,150 | 0.56 |
| North Carolina | $38,190 | $30,930 | $55,260 | 550 | 0.53 |
| North Dakota | $46,170 | $40,170 | $52,260 | 60 | 0.61 |
| Ohio | $44,560 | $37,120 | $62,360 | 1,560 | 1.32 |
| Oklahoma | $46,460 | $30,850 | $55,410 | 220 | 0.6 |
| Oregon | $52,740 | $39,270 | $64,060 | 410 | 0.97 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,310 | $35,650 | $59,630 | 1,690 | 1.3 |
| Rhode Island | $47,610 | $42,500 | $69,540 | ||
| South Carolina | $46,110 | $36,010 | $63,590 | 550 | 1.12 |
| Tennessee | $45,860 | $33,330 | $56,720 | 880 | 1.26 |
| Texas | $40,010 | $28,910 | $57,270 | 2,550 | 0.85 |
| Utah | $43,440 | $35,300 | $57,790 | 710 | 1.92 |
| Vermont | $48,660 | $39,540 | $63,650 | 240 | 3.66 |
| Virginia | $45,410 | $36,720 | $57,180 | 720 | 0.82 |
| Washington | $51,780 | $43,010 | $68,170 | 1,130 | 1.49 |
| West Virginia | $43,300 | $37,220 | $51,280 | 260 | 1.73 |
| Wisconsin | $48,030 | $38,820 | $71,660 | 550 | 0.88 |
| Wyoming | $37,510 | $34,320 | $44,890 | 80 | 1.32 |
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 molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 22.7%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-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
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Inventory control software
- Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software
- Timekeeping software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management.
Common job titles: Bed Laborer, Caster, Injection Molding Machine Operator, Machine Operator, Mold Mechanic, Molder, Molding Line Operator, Press Operator.
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 molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic make?
The national median annual wage for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic was $46,170 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,850 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $61,530. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic a growing career?
BLS projects employment of molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic to change +5.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Montana ($57,860), Hawaii ($55,990), Oregon ($52,740). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.