# Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

> Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-4072.00
- **Summary:** Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

## Aliases

- Machine Operator
- Molder
- Process Technician
- Production Technician
- Core Machine Operator
- Die Cast Technician
- Diecast Machine Operator
- Mold Setter
- Mold Technician
- Aluminum Molder
- Aluminum Molding Machine Operator
- Automatic Casting Machine Operator

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ah |
| Cool products after processing to prevent distortion. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.s |
| Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.3.h |
| Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.an |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Operate metal or plastic forming equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information. | 4.A.1.b.1.a |
| Remove workpieces from molds. | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Skim impurities from molten metal. | 4.A.3.a.2.m |
| Trim excess material from workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.l |
| Operate grinding equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.l |
| Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.f |
| Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |
| Mix substances to create chemical solutions. | 4.A.3.a.1.a |
| Load materials into production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds. | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures. | 4.A.3.a.2.at |
| Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.s |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products. | 4.A.4.c.3.a |
| Place materials into molds. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Load items into ovens or furnaces. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Remove products or workpieces from production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.an |
| Package products for storage or shipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.ap |
| Connect supply lines to production equipment or tools. | 4.A.3.a.2.ah |
| Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production. | 4.A.3.a.2.m |
| Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.h |
| Clean production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Smooth metal surfaces or edges. | 4.A.3.a.2.o |
| Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.am |
| Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.j |
| Maintain production or processing equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Lubricate production equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Repair templates, patterns, or molds. | 4.A.3.b.4.b |
| Replace worn equipment components. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Select production input materials. | 4.A.2.b.1.j |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.75 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.62 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.54 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.48 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.38 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.38 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.25 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.25 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.25 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.12 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.12 |
| Rate Control | ability | 3.12 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3.12 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3.12 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.12 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.09 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3 |
| Visualization | ability | 3 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3 |
| Auditory Attention | ability | 3 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 2.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Troubleshooting | transferable_skill | 2.88 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Industrial Control Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| FANUC Robotics iRVision | Industrial control software | no | no |
| HotFlo! Die-Shot Monitor | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Intera Systems Hawk-i | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| RobotWare DieCast | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| Visi-Trak True-Trak 20/20 | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.98 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.63 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.55 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.51 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.33 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 4.24 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.22 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.14 |
| Time Pressure | 3.96 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.94 |
| Contact With Others | 3.93 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 3.93 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.91 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.85 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.82 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.73 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.73 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.65 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 3.47 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.47 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.46 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 3.28 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 3.27 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.24 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.2 |
| Level of Competition | 3.16 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.15 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.11 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 2.94 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 2.88 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.82 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 2.81 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.8 |
| In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment | 2.76 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.6 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.57 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.42 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.35 |
| E-Mail | 2.17 |
| Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance | 2.1 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** 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.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 56.98 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 30.31 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 11.15 |
| Some College Courses | 1.56 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.97 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.28 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 4.08 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.47 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 2.99 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.37 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.28 |
| Dependability | work_style | 2.19 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 2.01 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 1.86 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 1.76 |
| Construction/Woodwork | specific_interest_area | 1.63 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.58 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 1.35 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 1.24 |
| Accounting | specific_interest_area | 1.24 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-4021.00 | role-51-4021-00 | Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-9195.00 | role-51-9195-00 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-6091.00 | role-51-6091-00 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Primary-Short |
| 51-9041.00 | role-51-9041-00 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-4081.00 | role-51-4081-00 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-4022.00 | role-51-4022-00 | Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-4031.00 | role-51-4031-00 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-4023.00 | role-51-4023-00 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-4111.00 | role-51-4111-00 | Tool and Die Makers | Primary-Long |
| 51-4191.00 | role-51-4191-00 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-4033.00 | role-51-4033-00 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Supplemental |
| 51-9191.00 | role-51-9191-00 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 41230
- **Mean Wage:** 44130
- **Pct10Wage:** 31990
- **Pct25Wage:** 36290
- **Pct75Wage:** 49100
- **Pct90Wage:** 60110
- **Employment:** 154820
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 139410 | 42790 | 10.88 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 1550 | 41020 | 0.26 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 470 | 45300 | 0.04 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 440 | 45290 | 0.38 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 360 | 37540 | 1.38 |
| 339910 | 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | National industry | 230 | 39720 | 11.5 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 100 | 53000 | 0.04 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 80 | 46090 |  |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 80 | 35120 |  |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 60 | 35610 |  |
| 459110 | 459110 | Sporting Goods Retailers | National industry | 50 | 64930 |  |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 40 | 50620 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 339910 | 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | National industry | 230 | 11.5 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 139410 | 10.88 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 360 | 1.38 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 440 | 0.38 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 1550 | 0.26 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 470 | 0.04 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 100 | 0.04 |
- **Count:** 15

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.95 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -1.146139 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -1.173385 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -1.108139 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 17
- **Percentile:** 14
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 13 | felten_aioe |
| 19 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 18 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -1.146139 | 13 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.13953488372093023 | 19 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.07050282527977364 | 18 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.95
- **Percentile:** 89
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.023255813953488372
- **Beta:** 0.08139534883720931
- **Gamma:** 0.13953488372093023

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -3.8
- **Growth Percentile:** 14
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 15.9
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 74
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 154.6
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 148.8

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 29
- **Skills:** 35
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 10
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** f6b1e866f375bce3