What Does it Take to Be a Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?
Casting Machine Operator Definition Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
What Do Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do On a Daily Basis?
- 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.
- Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary.
- Maintain inventories of materials.
- Clamp metal and plywood strips around dies or patterns to form molds.
- Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
- Mix and measure compounds, or weigh premixed compounds, and dump them into machine tubs, cavities, or molds.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Casting Machine Operator?
Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Turning and Beading Machine Operator
- Polymerization Oven Operator
- Vacuum Plastic Forming Machine Operator
- Nonferrous Metal Precision Pattern and Die Caster
- Reclamation Kettle Tender
Job Outlook for Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 145,400 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There will be an estimated 12,900 positions for Casting Machine Operator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Casting Machine Operator are Utah, North Dakota, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Idaho, Delaware, or Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is somewhere between $22,020 and $50,240.

Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Maryland, Delaware, or Maine, make the highest salaries.
How much do Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $33,950 |
Arizona | $35,470 |
Arkansas | $33,580 |
California | $35,730 |
Connecticut | $35,750 |
Delaware | $40,300 |
Florida | $33,200 |
Georgia | $33,330 |
Idaho | $32,180 |
Illinois | $36,410 |
Indiana | $33,170 |
Iowa | $32,510 |
Kansas | $31,560 |
Kentucky | $34,880 |
Louisiana | $29,520 |
Maine | $40,930 |
Maryland | $40,010 |
Massachusetts | $37,360 |
Michigan | $32,760 |
Minnesota | $38,050 |
Mississippi | $33,390 |
Missouri | $31,190 |
Montana | $30,810 |
Nebraska | $34,130 |
Nevada | $35,240 |
New Hampshire | $35,520 |
New Jersey | $36,580 |
New Mexico | $29,880 |
New York | $32,650 |
North Carolina | $33,600 |
North Dakota | $31,930 |
Ohio | $32,000 |
Oklahoma | $32,080 |
Oregon | $36,590 |
Pennsylvania | $33,240 |
Rhode Island | $30,180 |
South Carolina | $34,710 |
South Dakota | $32,770 |
Tennessee | $33,810 |
Texas | $30,530 |
Utah | $39,480 |
Vermont | $32,760 |
Virginia | $38,920 |
Washington | $38,560 |
West Virginia | $33,820 |
Wisconsin | $35,420 |
Wyoming | $36,840 |
What Tools & Technology do Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- FANUC Robotics iRVision
How to Become a Casting Machine Operator
What education or degrees do I need to become a Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?

What work experience do I need to become a Casting Machine Operator?

Where do Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Related Careers
Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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