Career Overview
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Also Known As
- Machine Operator
- Molder
- Process Technician
- Production Technician
Alternate Job Titles
- Aluminum Molder
- Aluminum Molding Machine Operator
- Automatic Casting Machine Operator
- Babbitt Spinner
- Babbitter
- Bench Molder
- Bender Machine Operator
- Bit Bender
- Blaster
- Blow Mold Operator
- Blow Molding Machine Tender
- Blow Molding Operator
- Bonding Machine Operator
- Brake Drum Molder
- Brass Molder
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
- Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
- Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
- Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
- Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
- Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Production and Processing
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Manual Dexterity
- Multilimb Coordination
- Control Precision
- Perceptual Speed
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Oral Comprehension
- Trunk Strength
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Stress Tolerance
- Achievement Orientation
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 1 month, up to and including 3 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
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Air angle die grinders
- Air guns
- Air purifying respirators
- Aluminized suits
- Aluminum hammers
- Brass hammers
- Cold chamber die casting machines
- Compressed air sprayers
- Deflashing tools
- Die bars
- Die cast dies
- Digital handheld thermometers
- Digital micrometers
- Digital psychrometers
- Digital radius gauges
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $31,990 |
| Median | $41,230 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $60,110 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 154,820
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,980
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $45,690
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $44,980
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,130
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,060
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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.