Production
Foundry mold and coremakers
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Median pay
$48,110
Growth to 2035
−23%
declining
Openings a year
800
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Foundry mold and coremakers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Foundry mold and coremakers: 81% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
- 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.
- Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
- Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
- Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
- Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces.
- Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns.
Also called: Core Machine Operator · Core Maker · Core Stripper · Coremaker · Green Sand Molder · Mold Maker · Mold Operator · Molder
Outlook and AI
Foundry mold and coremakers held 12,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 9,800 by 2035 (−23%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as molds made with 3D printers replace traditionally crafted molds.
Compare with
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