What do they do?

Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

Also known as:

Casting Machine Operator, Core Machine Operator, Die Cast Technician, Die Caster, Diecast Machine Operator, Eight Arm Operator, Injection Press Operator, Machine Operator, Mold Machine Operator, Mold Maker, Mold Setter, Mold Technician, Molder, Process Technician, Production Technician, Setup Technician

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to Decline 7 percent from 2020 to 2030

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • -7.6%

    Change

    Ranks #54 in job growth rate
    1,360

    Job Openings

    Ranks #2 in net job growth

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)
  • Master's degree  (1%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (6%)
  • Associate's degree  (13%)
  • Some college, no degree  (26%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (41%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (13%)

People in this career often have these skills:

  • Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
  • Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
  • Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
  • Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
  • Connect supply lines to production equipment or tools.
  • Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
  • Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
  • Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Package products for storage or shipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Remove workpieces from molds.
  • Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Repair templates, patterns, or molds.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
  • Select production input materials.
  • Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.
  • Operate grinding equipment.
  • Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
  • Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
  • Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
  • Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
  • Place materials into molds.
  • Load items into ovens or furnaces.
  • Build production molds.
  • Skim impurities from molten metal.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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