Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Foundry Mold And Coremakers
Foundry Mold And Coremakers make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Table of contents
What they do
Foundry Mold And Coremakers make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
- Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
- Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
- Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
- Tend machines that bond cope and drag together to form completed shell molds.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Foundry Mold and Coremakers rotate sweep boards around spindles to make symmetrical molds for convex impressions. They lift upper mold sections from lower sections and remove molded patterns.
A typical day for a Foundry Mold and Coremaker will also include:
- Operate ovens or furnaces to bake cores or to melt, skim, and flux metal.
- Pour molten metal into molds, manually or with crane ladles.
- Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
- Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
- Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate the removal of patterns from molds.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Foundry Mold and Coremakers also cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into molds. They may also form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Foundry Mold and Coremakers rotate sweep boards around spindles to make symmetrical molds for convex impressions. They might also position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
In addition, they sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them lift upper mold sections from lower sections and remove molded patterns.
To some Foundry Mold and Coremakers, it is also their responsibility to position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
49% said they were satisfied with their job and 41% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
Demand for this career is declining.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Foundry Mold And Coremakers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $25,080 to $30,190 per year or $12 to $15 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $54,330 | $26 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $45,940 | $22 |
Median | $37,140 | $18 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $30,190 | $15 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $25,080 | $12 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Foundry Mold And Coremakers based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Federal Executive Branch | $59490 | $28.60 |
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $44660 | $21.47 |
Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing | $43100 | $20.72 |
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $42110 | $20.24 |
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $41200 | $19.81 |
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $40160 | $19.31 |
Machinery Manufacturing | $39540 | $19.01 |
Foundries | $39000 | $18.75 |
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $35610 | $17.12 |
Plastics Product Manufacturing | $35160 | $16.91 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Foundry Mold And Coremakers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Foundry Mold And Coremakers including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Foundries | 9270 | $39000 | $18.75 |
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 2120 | $35610 | $17.12 |
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 860 | $44660 | $21.47 |
Machinery Manufacturing | 800 | $39540 | $19.01 |
Plastics Product Manufacturing | 680 | $35160 | $16.91 |
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 290 | $34940 | $16.80 |
Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing | 130 | $43100 | $20.72 |
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 80 | $42110 | $20.24 |
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 80 | $40160 | $19.31 |
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 70 | $33170 | $15.95 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Ironworking/Ironworker
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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