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Foundry Mold and Coremakers

ManufacturingO*NET 51-4071.00United States

Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$48,126

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
−16.6%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

100% of the workforce

Employment
13.62K jobs

Growing to 11.35K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What foundry mold and coremakers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
  • Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
  • Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
  • Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
  • 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.
  • Cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into molds.
  • Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$37,095
25th percentile
$41,796
50th percentile
$48,126
75th percentile
$57,415
90th percentile
$63,114

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $48,126 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−16.6%projected to decline
202513,615 jobs
2035 projected11,353 jobs

2,262 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
100%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Lifting Ability
  • Machinery
  • Molding (Manufacturing Process)
  • General Mathematics
  • Mechanical Aptitude
  • Production Process
  • Housekeeping
  • Machine Operation
  • Packaging And Labeling
  • Tape Measure
  • Hand Tools
  • Machine Setup
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Casting
  • Continuous Improvement Process
  • Grinding Machine
  • Product Inspection
  • Safety Procedures
  • Aluminum
  • Loading And Unloading

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Makers10 postings
  2. 02Foundry Molders6 postings
  3. 03Mold Makers4 postings
  4. 04Molders4 postings
  5. 05Store Operators4 postings
  6. 06Machine Operators3 postings
  7. 07Mold Setters3 postings
  8. 08Thermoforming Operators3 postings
  9. 09Blow Mold Operators2 postings
  10. 10Control Room Operators2 postings
  11. 11Dough Makers2 postings
  12. 12Foundry Managers2 postings
  13. 13Beverage Operations Managers1 postings
  14. 14CIP Operators1 postings
  15. 15Fulfillment Center Operations Managers1 postings
  16. 16Grinders1 postings
  17. 17Molding Operators1 postings
  18. 18Production Teams1 postings
  19. 19Third Mates1 postings
  20. 20Wax Specialists1 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Aerotek3 postings
  2. 02Bath Fitter3 postings
  3. 03Denison Industries3 postings
  4. 04Federal-Mogul3 postings
  5. 05Precision Castparts3 postings
  6. 06Cabinetworks Group Michigan2 postings
  7. 07Emerson Electric2 postings
  8. 08Metaltek International2 postings
  9. 09Rpm Staffing Professionals2 postings
  10. 10ABB1 postings
  11. 11Adecco1 postings
  12. 12Alliant Castings1 postings
  13. 13Arrow Castings Company1 postings
  14. 14Bar Keepers Friend Vietnam1 postings
  15. 15Bremer Manufacturing1 postings
  16. 16Centennial Farms Dairy1 postings
  17. 17Col-Pump1 postings
  18. 18Dixon Valve & Coupling1 postings
  19. 19Driv1 postings
  20. 20Eaton Corporation1 postings

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