What Do Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender Do?
Casting Machine Operator Job Description Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Casting Machine Operator Responsibilities
- Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
- Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
- Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
- Clamp metal and plywood strips around dies or patterns to form molds.
- Maintain inventories of materials.
- Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Casting Machine Operator?
These are the skills Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Types of Casting Machine Operator Jobs
- Injection Molding Process Technician
- Core Mounter
- Aluminum Molder
- Machine Coremaker
- Caster
Is There Job Demand 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. The BLS estimates 12,900 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Casting Machine Operator Salary
The salary for Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ranges between about $22,020 and $50,240 a year.

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 different U.S. states?
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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
Becoming a Casting Machine Operator
What education is needed to be a Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?

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

Who Employs Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

Below are examples of industries where Metal and Plastic Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
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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