Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
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US Salary Overview
The national median wage for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the United States is $44,350 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Pay ranges from $34,170 at the 10th percentile to $61,600 at the 90th percentile. In the UK, the equivalent occupation (Plastics process operatives) has a median of £29,644 — figures are shown in local currency and are not converted. Heading for a US interview? Interview prep guides cover the standard question frameworks.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,170 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $37,270 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $44,350 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $51,020 | Experienced |
| 90th | $61,600 | Senior / highest decile |
Career Essentials
Role-specific interview prep for this occupation.
Check Price →Median Salary by State
| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,560 | $77,490 | 140 |
| Maryland | $63,460 | $59,030 | 230 |
| Maine | $59,230 | $59,830 | 470 |
| Minnesota | $49,590 | $51,950 | 2,000 |
| Nevada | $49,590 | $54,340 | 350 |
| Nebraska | $48,500 | $47,740 | 1,000 |
| Washington | $48,290 | $52,690 | 2,000 |
| Colorado | $48,200 | $50,170 | 2,000 |
| North Dakota | $47,780 | $50,280 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $47,610 | $48,680 | 1,000 |
| California | $47,240 | $49,020 | 9,000 |
| Kentucky | $47,110 | $50,210 | 4,000 |
| Arizona | $46,930 | $48,160 | 1,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,760 | $46,760 | 7,000 |
| Utah | $46,750 | $50,610 | 2,000 |
| Connecticut | $46,240 | $49,120 | 1,000 |
| Oregon | $46,200 | $48,820 | 2,000 |
| Oklahoma | $45,680 | $47,120 | 2,000 |
| Illinois | $45,500 | $46,710 | 11,000 |
| Virginia | $45,370 | $45,120 | 2,000 |
| South Carolina | $45,270 | $46,290 | 3,000 |
| Delaware | $45,220 | $45,200 | 120 |
| Iowa | $45,220 | $47,170 | 4,000 |
| Ohio | $44,830 | $46,060 | 11,000 |
| Arkansas | $44,790 | $44,410 | 3,000 |
| Vermont | $44,530 | $47,250 | 110 |
| New York | $44,500 | $46,650 | 3,000 |
| Indiana | $44,290 | $45,820 | 9,000 |
| Wisconsin | $44,230 | $45,310 | 9,000 |
| Missouri | $44,120 | $45,780 | 3,000 |
| Montana | $43,340 | $45,020 | 110 |
| Georgia | $43,250 | $47,230 | 2,000 |
| Kansas | $43,050 | $42,480 | 1,000 |
| Idaho | $42,690 | $43,110 | 520 |
| Massachusetts | $42,570 | $44,750 | 4,000 |
| West Virginia | $42,500 | $47,060 | 420 |
| Rhode Island | $42,020 | $44,000 | 430 |
| New Mexico | $41,990 | $41,670 | 250 |
| North Carolina | $41,630 | $43,880 | 8,000 |
| Texas | $41,140 | $43,860 | 7,000 |
| South Dakota | $40,750 | $42,670 | 840 |
| New Jersey | $39,950 | $43,470 | 2,000 |
| Mississippi | $39,730 | $42,930 | 550 |
| Michigan | $39,490 | $43,800 | 14,000 |
| Alabama | $39,010 | $41,250 | 6,000 |
| Tennessee | $38,820 | $41,360 | 4,000 |
| Louisiana | $38,650 | $40,620 | 90 |
| Florida | $38,440 | $42,150 | 3,000 |
| Wyoming | $38,160 | $43,020 | 60 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,080 | $27,560 | 920 |
Recommended Gear & Prep
Many people pair this data with a salary negotiation guide before accepting an offer.
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Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · Page built 2026-07-18