Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Molding And Casting Workers
Molding And Casting Workers perform a variety of duties such as mixing materials, assembling mold parts, filling molds, and stacking molds to mold and cast a wide range of products.
Table of contents
What they do
Molding And Casting Workers perform a variety of duties such as mixing materials, assembling mold parts, filling molds, and stacking molds to mold and cast a wide range of products.
- Pour, pack, spread, or press plaster, concrete, liquid plastic, or other materials into or around models or molds.
- Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
- Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products.
- Brush or spray mold surfaces with parting agents or insert the paper into molds to ensure smoothness and prevent sticking or seepage.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Molding and Casting Workers pour, pack, spread, or press plaster, concrete, liquid plastic, or other materials into or around models or molds. They set the proper operating temperature for each casting.
A typical day for a Molding and Casting Worker will also include:
- Construct or form molds for use in casting metal, clay, or plaster objects, using plaster, fiberglass, rubber, casting machines, patterns, or flasks.
- Select sizes and types of molds according to instructions.
- Melt metal pieces, using torches, and cast products, such as inlays and crowns, using centrifugal casting machines.
- Clean, finish and lubricate molds and mold parts.
- Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Molding and Casting Workers also boreholes or cut grates, risers, or pouring spouts in molds, using power tools. They may also tap or tilt molds to ensure uniform distribution of materials.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Molding and Casting Workers measure and cut products to specified dimensions, using measuring and cutting instruments. They might also patch broken edges or fractures, using clay or plaster.
In addition, they place forms around models and separately immerse each half portion of a model in plaster, wax, or other mold-making materials.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them operate molding machines that compact sand in flasks to form molds.
To some Molding and Casting Workers, it is also their responsibility to locate and scribe parting lines on patterns, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, squares, or depth gauges.
Featured Schools
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Molding And Casting Workers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $25,490 to $29,190 per year or $12 to $14 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $53,290 | $26 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $43,710 | $21 |
Median | $35,440 | $17 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $29,190 | $14 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $25,490 | $12 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Molding And Casting Workers based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Federal Executive Branch | $55770 | $26.81 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $53240 | $25.60 |
Specialized Design Services | $51610 | $24.81 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | $45050 | $21.66 |
Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $43170 | $20.75 |
Home Furnishings Stores | $42210 | $20.29 |
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores | $41780 | $20.08 |
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $41760 | $20.08 |
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $41080 | $19.75 |
Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $40960 | $19.69 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Molding And Casting Workers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Molding And Casting Workers including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 23460 | $37460 | $18.01 |
Building Finishing Contractors | 2680 | $39370 | $18.93 |
Employment Services | 2140 | $31430 | $15.11 |
Plastics Product Manufacturing | 1930 | $34720 | $16.69 |
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1890 | $36200 | $17.41 |
Rubber Product Manufacturing | 1600 | $38160 | $18.35 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 1180 | $37130 | $17.85 |
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 880 | $39670 | $19.07 |
Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers | 730 | $39490 | $18.98 |
Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 520 | $39860 | $19.16 |
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
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.
Don’t know which career to pursue?
Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.
Take The Career Quiz