Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
ManufacturingO*NET 51-9195.00United States
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.
- Median annual earnings
- $43,665
- Projected change
- +7.9%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 39.88K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
84.6% of the workforce
Growing to 43.03K by 2035
Explore this career by location
Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.
Showing United States
Loading available locations…
Build the skills
ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
Loading related ASU learning
The work
What molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- 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.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $31,608
- 25th percentile
- $35,485
- 50th percentile
- $43,665
- 75th percentile
- $53,642
- 90th percentile
- $67,625
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $43,665 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+7.9%faster than average
202539,883 jobs
2035 projected43,033 jobs
3,150 more 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
- 84.6%
- Certificate
- 12.4%
- Doctoral degree or more
- 3%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- 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.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- 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.
- 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.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Molding Operators794 postings
- 02Mill Operators709 postings
- 03Concrete Mixer Drivers618 postings
- 04Slitter Operators584 postings
- 05Mixer Operators472 postings
- 06Grinder Operators425 postings
- 07Blow Mold Operators379 postings
- 08Test Operators359 postings
- 09Mold Makers351 postings
- 10Process Technicians295 postings
- 11Furnace Operators254 postings
- 12Injection Molding Operators247 postings
- 13Feed Mill Operators231 postings
- 14Press Operators205 postings
- 15Molding Machine Operators185 postings
- 16Mold Technicians183 postings
- 17Mold Maintenance Technicians176 postings
- 18Operators168 postings
- 19Foundry Operatives164 postings
- 20Mold Setters158 postings
Top employers
- 01Aerotek514 postings
- 02Smyrna Ready Mix316 postings
- 03Adecco134 postings
- 04Precision Castparts96 postings
- 05ManpowerGroup92 postings
- 06Express Employment Professionals89 postings
- 07Drax Corporation Limited86 postings
- 08Amcor83 postings
- 09Sanmina62 postings
- 10Volt56 postings
- 11Kelly Services45 postings
- 12Nesco Resource44 postings
- 13Flowers Foods43 postings
- 14Eli Lilly39 postings
- 15Kohler39 postings
- 16Staffmark38 postings
- 17Asplundh Tree Experts37 postings
- 18CRH Americas35 postings
- 19CRH plc34 postings
- 20Enviva Lp33 postings
Keep looking
Related careers
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
- Median pay
- $46,467
- Employment outlook
- +0.5%
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
- Median pay
- $65,331
- Employment outlook
- −7.4%
Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
- Median pay
- $68,507
- Employment outlook
- −2.3%
Appraisers of Personal and Business Property
- Median pay
- $68,507
- Employment outlook
- −2.3%