Foundry Mold and Coremakers

Career Overview

Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.

Also Known As

• Core Machine Operator
• Core Maker
• Coremaker
• Molder

Alternate Job Titles

• Airset Caster
• Airset Molder
• Bond Runner
• Core Baker
• Core Drier
• Core Machine Operator
• Core Maker
• Core Microarchitect
• Core Oven Tender
• Core Paster
• Core Piler
• Core Rescuer
• Core Setter
• Core Stacker
• Core Sticker

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Trunk Strength
• Manual Dexterity
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Static Strength
• Finger Dexterity
• Multilimb Coordination
• Near Vision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Reaction Time
• Control Precision

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Stress Tolerance
• Perseverance

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Support
• Relationships
• Independence
• Working Conditions
• Achievement

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Dassault Systemes SolidWorks

Tools & Equipment

• Abrasive stones
• Allen wrench sets
• Angle plates
• Bench vises
• Buffing machines
• Centrifugal casting machines
• Chain hoists
• Core blowers
• Core machines
• Coremaking machines
• Crane ladles
• Crucible furnaces
• Cupola furnaces
• Desktop computers
• Dial calipers

Work Environment

• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
• Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
• Exposed to Contaminants
• Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
• Spend Time Standing

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$36,220
Median	$45,700
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$61,390

Workers Employed Nationally: 12,720

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.