How to become a Molder, Shaper or Caster, Except Metal and Plastic
Official title: Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Also called: Bed Laborer, Caster, Injection Molding Machine Operator, Machine Operator, Mold Mechanic, Molder, Molding Line Operator, Press Operator
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.
Main 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.
How to become one
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Cell Maker.
- Apprenticeship: Plaster Pattern Caster.
- Apprenticeship: Rubber-Stamp Maker.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $46,170 a year The middle half earn $39,280 to $53,000.
- About 43,000 people work in this job now, and about 45,500 are projected by 2035. (+5.8%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Related jobs
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Etchers and Engravers
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
- Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Molder, Shaper or Caster, Except Metal and Plastic?
Ways in include: Cell Maker.
How much does a Molder, Shaper or Caster, Except Metal and Plastic earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $46,170 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $39,280 to $53,000.
Is a Molder, Shaper or Caster, Except Metal and Plastic a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 43,000 to about 45,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Molder, Shaper or Caster, Except Metal and Plastic?
Usually not. Only 19% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Cell Maker.
Will AI change the work of a Molder, Shaper or Caster, Except Metal and Plastic?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.