Production
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
Median pay
$46,170
Growth to 2035
+6%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
5,100
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
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
Core tasks
- Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
- Trim or remove excess material, using scrapers, knives, or band saws.
Also called: Bed Laborer · Caster · Injection Molding Machine Operator · Machine Operator · Mold Mechanic · Molder · Molding Line Operator · Press Operator
Outlook and AI
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic held 43,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 45,500 by 2035 (+6%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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- Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic vs. Machine feeders and offbearers