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Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (O*NET 51-4072.00) set up, operate, or tend equipment that forms metal or thermoplastic materials into parts or products. Work centers on work order interpretation and mold selection and installation, pressure, temperature, and cycle control, operation observation and measurement, demolding and finishing, and records and handover.
Scope and boundaries: this page covers only O*NET-SOC 51-4072.00, Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, excluding adjacent occupations such as nonmetallic forming, machining, and tool and die making. Employer and local rules determine safety and operating authorization for furnaces, die-casting equipment, hot work, and lifting.
How to assess: use an entirely fictional work order and process sheet to sequence work order interpretation and mold selection and installation, mold and equipment preparation, parameter settings and trial molding, operation monitoring and measurement, demolding and finishing, and records and handover. Describe three checkpoints and anomaly responses. Perform paper exercises only, without real furnaces, die-casting machines, or molds.
The official scope of O*NET-SOC 51-4072.00, Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, is setting up, operating, or tending metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to form metal or thermoplastic materials into parts or products. Excludes machinists who cut materials, tool and die makers who make molds, and workers molding and carving nonmetallic materials.
Conclusion: this occupation's core outputs are parts or products made using metal or plastic molding, casting, and coremaking equipment. Nonmetallic forming workers mold and carve nonmetallic materials, foundry mold and coremakers specialize in sand molds and cores, machinists and tool and die makers focus on cutting and moldmaking, and welding and cutting workers focus on joining processes. Adjacent relationships support comparisons only, not automatic transfers or mutual recognition of qualifications.
Comparisons use the official O*NET 51-4072.00 description and tasks and adjacent O*NET occupational profiles. This is an editorial synthesis, not job recommendations.
People entering the field and trial molding
First verify process sheets, mold numbers, and safety procedures. Complete mold installation and trial molding under guidance without skipping equipment operation and hot-work authorization.
Insufficient evidence: a national wage distribution in mainland China for metal/plastic molding, coremaking, and casting equipment operation has not been obtained. NBS2025 manufacturing and production/manufacturing group averages are related references, not this occupation's wages.
Scope comparison: the National Bureau of Statistics publishes average wages of urban unit employees by industry category without separately identifying 'casting workers' or corresponding metal/plastic molding equipment occupations.
O*NET displays 2025 BLS OEWS national median wages of 21.32 USD/hour and 44,350 USD/year. These are not starting wages, senior role wages, or individual offers and cannot be converted into individual earnings in mainland China.
National percentiles: 10th 34,170 USD/year, 25th 37,270 USD/year, 75th 51,020 USD/year, and 90th 61,600 USD/year, with corresponding hourly wages of 16.43, 17.92, 24.53, and 29.62 USD.
Boundaries: this checklist is an editorial synthesis and cannot replace employer safety procedures, furnace and press operating procedures, or local regulations. Specific protection, exposure limits, and authorization depend on relevant authority and employer documents.
The main issues to assess in advance are burns from molten metal and hot castings, foundry dust and silica exposure, moving equipment parts and pinch injuries, and batch scrap from incorrect parameters or mold setups. Exposure points differ across mold installation and parameter adjustment, operation and monitoring, and review and delivery.
Boundaries: entry paths and capability stages on this page are editorial organization explaining preparation order, not standardized industry levels or guaranteed promotion timelines. Verify skills and safety requirements for furnaces, die-casting equipment, hot work, and lifting against employer procedures and local rules.
Entry stage: can understand work orders and drawings under guidance, clean and lubricate molds, apply release agents, perform simple mold installations, and truthfully record and report difficulties.
U.S. 2025 employment 150000; 2025—2035 decline category, with 13800 annual openings including growth and replacement. Overall projections are not attributed to AI and are not individual probabilities.
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, and coremaking machines to die-cast, pour, core, and demold metal or thermoplastic materials into parts or products. Typical operations include work order interpretation and mold installation, mold and equipment preparation, parameter settings and trial molding, operation monitoring and measurement, demolding and finishing, and dimensional and appearance review. Excludes cutting-focused machinists, moldmaking tool and die makers, and nonmetallic forming workers.
Materials and processes differ. This occupation operates metal or plastic molding, casting, and coremaking equipment and handles melts and mold closing. Nonmetallic forming workers primarily mold and carve clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, and similar materials; machinists focus on cutting and drawing tolerances.
Who it suits: people willing to repeatedly verify work orders and parameters, notice surface and dimensional deviations, maintain attention at machine pace and record as required, and stop equipment to seek verification when jams, overtemperature, or dimensional anomalies arise. Note: if heat, noise, or repetitive movements are difficult to tolerate, or you are unwilling to stop equipment and seek verification, compare adjacent directions first.
Note: the following are editorially designed paper exercises without real melts, molds, or employer production data. They do not authorize equipment operation, hot work, lifting, or quality release. Judgments involving safety, health, and qualifications require employer procedures and local rules.
Work context (O*NET Work Context survey): 59% of respondents encounter minor burns, cuts, stings, or bites daily; 53% report machine speed completely determines work pace, with another 23% rating it very important. 39% have continual contact with others and 33% contact most of the time. 77% never sit at work, 92% never need to face external customers or the public, and 92% never work outdoors under cover.
Capability priorities: understand work orders and drawings, install molds and adjust parameters according to process sheets, monitor operation and record temperatures and pressures, review dimensions and appearance visually and with instruments, and stop to seek verification for jams, overtemperature, or abnormal parameters. Requires metal or plastic material, mold, and equipment knowledge and procedural recordkeeping habits.
Preparation and training: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 1—2, generally requiring a high school diploma or equivalent, as reported by 57% of education survey respondents. Related experience ranges from almost none to several months—one year; on-the-job training ranges from several days to one year (SVP below 6.0). No training programs were found nationwide.
Occupational judgments: key decisions concern mold-material compatibility, correct temperature and pressure parameters, first-article conformity, and product dimensional and appearance conformity. Stop equipment and escalate first when uncertain or beyond authorization.
Main outputs: conforming castings or plastic products, traceable mold and process parameter records, temperature and pressure curves, and dimensional and appearance review results.
Complete work cycle: work order interpretation and mold selection and installation, mold and equipment preparation, parameter settings and trial molding, operation monitoring and measurement, demolding and finishing, dimensional and appearance review, maintenance, and records and handover. Each step requires verifiable evidence.
Comparison dimensions: this page compares core work and outputs, key differences from this occupation, and which choices may fit better, to help assess directional preferences.
Difference from Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic: this occupation operates metal or plastic molding, casting, and coremaking machines and handles melts and mold closing. The adjacent occupation primarily molds, shapes, and carves nonmetallic materials such as clay, glass, plaster, concrete, and stone.
If you prefer specializing in sand molds and cores with less high-pressure mold closing, compare foundry mold and coremakers; if you prefer precision cutting to drawings, compare machinists; if you prefer making and repairing molds themselves, compare tool and die makers.
Workers primarily in die casting, injection molding, and batch production
Include parameter versions, mold numbers, temperature and pressure curves, and first-article decisions in review points. Handle anomalies according to shutdown and escalation rules and retain audit trails.
Personnel responsible for processes and mentoring
Base mentoring on verifiable outputs and records, reserving parameter change and appearance standard decisions for authorized personnel under employer procedures.
Develop material, mold, and measurement fundamentals first, then accumulate process records through public or simulated projects. Do not treat generated content as capability evidence.
Verifiable reference: 2025 manufacturing average annual wages were 113,594 yuan/year in urban non-private units (nominal growth 5.2%) and 76,055 yuan/year in urban private units (nominal growth 6.4%). Coverage includes urban legal entities with 5 or more employees, excluding individual businesses and freelancers.
Insufficient evidence: a national wage distribution in mainland China for metal/plastic molding, coremaking, and casting equipment operation has not been obtained. NBS2025 manufacturing and production/manufacturing group averages are related references, not this occupation's wages.
Percentiles and medians use 2025 BLS OEWS national definitions and cannot be directly compared across years, regions, or occupations.
Medians and percentiles do not divide newcomers from managers. Paid hours and working arrangements vary by employer and project.
Low percentiles are not starting wages, and distribution data cannot be used to calculate individual take-home or after-tax earnings.
Verify actual compensation by specific employer, region, and job level; do not treat aggregate statistics as individual wage promises.
O*NET lists interest code RC (Realistic, Conventional), describing activity preferences only, not hiring, competence, or safety qualifications.
Exploratory tool, not qualification or hiring evidence.
Evidence scope: dust and respiratory health references U.S. CDC/NIOSH silica and occupational health materials; machine and equipment guarding references relevant U.S. OSHA 29 CFR 1910 standards. Work context percentages reflect U.S. O*NET respondents and are not extrapolated to other regions.
Affected roles and tasks: personnel performing melting, pouring, coremaking, shakeout, sand removal, and surface finishing.
Hot materials involve burn exposure. Dust containing respirable crystalline silica is associated with silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease; this does not refer to all dust or plastic molding.
Entry-level collaboration
Independent operation stage: can independently adjust temperatures, pressures, and cycle times, complete trial molding and operation monitoring, and review dimensions and appearance using instruments.
Independent operation
Defect response stage: can determine causes of shrinkage cavities, missing material, flash, and deformation, select repair or rework plans, and adjust process parameters.
Defect response
Process and mentoring stage: can lead process parameters, molds, and appearance standards and mentor others within authorization, without replacing employer safety and quality sign-off responsibilities.
| Field 1 | Field 2 | Field 3 | Field 4 | Field 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided mold installation and trial molding | Install molds according to process sheets, apply release agents, clean and lubricate molds, and perform simple trial molding under guidance | Must not independently set process parameters or make conformity decisions | Mold installation records and mentor feedback | Expand to independent parameter settings and trial molding |
| Routine parameters and self-inspection | Independently install molds, adjust parameters, and conduct trial molding, monitor operation, and self-inspect dimensions and appearance | Parameter changes require review; no batch release | First-article records and measurement and appearance checklists | Expand to complex molds and multiple stations |
| Complex defects and rework | Determine causes of shrinkage cavities, missing material, flash, and deformation and select repair or rework plans | Process parameter changes follow approval procedures | Defect response records and rework reinspection results | Expand to process parameter standardization |
| Process standards and batches | Lead process parameters, mold and appearance standards, and batch reviews | Authorized personnel sign quality conclusions | Process documents and batch reports | Expand to team mentoring and handover standards |
| Mentoring and improvement | Lead process improvement, standards maintenance, and mentoring within authorization | Does not replace employer safety and quality sign-off responsibilities | Improvement and mentoring records | Expand authorization scope according to rules |
| Field 1 | Field 2 | Field 3 | Field 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specifications omit material batches | Confirm materials and mold numbers before starting | The interviewer confirms questioning, confirmation methods, and audit trail requirements | Question list and response records |
| First article has missing material or shrinkage cavities | Stop equipment and review temperatures, pressures, and injection cycles | The interviewer confirms decision methods, remeasurement methods, and audit trail requirements | First-article inspection and anomaly records |
| Temperature or pressure exceeds the set range | Stop equipment, isolate, and report according to procedures, documenting curves | The interviewer confirms escalation paths, shutdown rules, and audit trail requirements | Curves and response records |
| Batch appearance shows systematic deviations | Stop batch production, isolate, and trace molds and parameters | The interviewer confirms tracing methods, isolation scope, and audit trail requirements | Isolation and traceability records |
| Field 1 | Field 2 | Field 3 | Field 4 | Field 5 | Field 6 | Field 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | High school: 57% of respondents' answers about new hire needs, not a uniform threshold | Employer | Verify by role | Education does not equal equipment operation or quality release authorization | Employer | Verify role requirements |
| Vocational training | Vocational school courses or on-the-job mentoring records | Educational institutions and employers | According to employer requirements | Training content may differ from on-the-job requirements | Employer | Verify training scope |
| Occupational certification | Such as National Institute for Metalworking Skills CNC turning operation, Machining Level I series, and Metalforming Level I | Certification bodies and employers | According to role preferences | Certification is an advantage, not universally mandatory | Employer | Check whether required |
| Apprenticeship training | Verify registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training in the target region; absence from a directory does not mean no provision exists | Registered apprenticeship organizations and employers | According to program requirements | Apprentice status does not equal independent operation or quality release | Employer | Verify program content |
| Safety and operating authorization | Role safety training and equipment operation authorization | Employer | By equipment and procedure | Authorization is limited to specified equipment and operations | Employer | Verify authorization scope |
| Experience evidence | Verifiable outputs, parameters, and measurement records | Employer | Verify by role | Experience does not equal qualification certification | Employer | Prepare outputs and records |
2025 employment; 2025—2035 projections
Currently uses employment change categories only, without filling in unread exact 2035 counts. National trends cannot guarantee regional or individual outcomes.
Projections are not guarantees and do not promise individual hiring or income.
Willing to repeatedly verify work orders and parameters, notice surface and dimensional deviations, maintain attention at machine pace, and stop to seek verification for jams, overtemperature, or abnormal parameters. These are behavioral signals, not personality diagnoses.
Mainland China has no national occupational wage data matching O*NET-SOC 51-4072.00. This page uses 2025 manufacturing wages (non-private: 113,594 yuan/year; private: 76,055 yuan/year) and the broad production/manufacturing job category (80,739 yuan/year) as industry proxies, not individual wages.
2025 BLS OEWS national figures: median hourly wage 21.32 USD, median annual wage 44,350 USD, and 10th—90th percentiles 34,170—61,600 USD/year. Medians and percentiles are neither starting wages nor individual offers and cannot be converted into mainland Chinese earnings.
Available evidence does not support a job-loss conclusion. Tools may assist work order and process sheet organization, parameter conversions, temperature and pressure curve recording, and defect and measurement data organization. People must retain mold and material condition judgments, parameter settings, dimensional and appearance conformity decisions, anomaly shutdowns, and handover.
In the United States, this occupation is in preparation levels 1—2, generally requiring a high school diploma or equivalent, with on-the-job training from several days to one year. O*NET-listed national certifications include National Institute for Metalworking Skills CNC turning operation, Machining Level I series, and Metalforming Level I. No training programs were found nationwide. Verify job and safety requirements in China or the work jurisdiction against relevant authority and employer rules.
Burn risks from molten metal and hot castings; foundry dust and silica exposure during sand mixing, coremaking, sand removal, and grinding; moving equipment parts and pinch injuries; and strain from prolonged standing and repetitive movements. Implement thermal protection, ventilation and wet methods, machine guarding, hearing protection, and shutdown for anomalies.
Chinese and U.S. data are presented separately and cannot overwrite each other. AI scenarios are not real adoption evidence; paper exercises do not authorize actual professional practice, equipment operation, hot work, or lifting.
Global task-level estimates of occupational exposure to generative AI: approximately one quarter of workers are in exposed occupations, with the highest exposure category accounting for approximately 3.3% of global employment.
International Labour Organization
GLOBAL
2025-05-20; accessed 2026-09-25
international task exposure research
contextual
Global task-level exposure estimates, not this occupation's adoption rate, automation rate, or job forecast.
2026-09-25
Average annual wages for manufacturing and the broad production/manufacturing job category, used as Chinese industry proxies.
National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China
CN
2025; published 2026-05-16; accessed 2026-09-25
official wage statistics
Industry reference
Not exact occupational wages. Different statistical populations cannot be combined into a range; excludes individual businesses and freelancers.
2026-09-25
Employment: 154,600 in 2024 and 148,800 in 2034; change -4%; average annual job openings 15,900.
O*NET OnLine using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data
US
2024—2034 BLS projections; accessed 2026-09-25
official employment projection
Occupation-specific
Projections are not guarantees; average annual openings do not equal individual hiring probabilities.
2026-09-25
Official responsibility wording, sample job titles, and preparation requirement summary.
O*NET OnLine
US
updated 2026; accessed 2026-09-25
official occupation profile
Occupation-specific
U.S. occupational definitions; the Chinese name must retain the metal and plastic molding equipment scope.
2026-09-25
Exact occupational identity, 29 tasks, work context, and interest code.
O*NET OnLine / U.S. Department of Labor
US
updated 2026; accessed 2026-09-25
official occupation profile
Occupation-specific
U.S. occupational definitions; the Chinese name must retain the metal and plastic molding equipment scope.
2026-09-25
Preparation levels 1—2, education composition (57% high school diploma or equivalent, 30% not required, 11% postsecondary certificate), and on-the-job training range.
O*NET OnLine
US
updated 2026; accessed 2026-09-25
official preparation profile
Occupation-specific
Preparation requirements use U.S. definitions and do not establish Chinese statutory qualifications.
2026-09-25
Median wages, employment levels, change projections, and average annual job openings.
O*NET OnLine
US
2025 BLS OEWS and 2024—2034 projections; accessed 2026-09-25
official occupation summary
Occupation-specific
U.S. scope for this occupation; do not extrapolate to other regions.
2026-09-25
Approximately 90% in manufacturing and 10% in other industries.
O*NET OnLine
US
2024; accessed 2026-09-25
official industry distribution
Occupation-specific
Industry distribution signals employer contexts, not demand forecasts.
2026-09-25
National wage percentile distribution (10th / 25th / median / 75th / 90th percentiles) and hourly and annual wage equivalents.
O*NET / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
US
2025 BLS OEWS; accessed 2026-09-25
O*NET display of BLS OEWS wage data
Occupation-specific
Not starting wages, individual offers, or Chinese market data.
2026-09-25
Machine and equipment guarding regulations (29 CFR 1910 Subpart O, including power presses and power transmission apparatus guarding).
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
US
current; accessed 2026-09-25
safety authority
contextual
U.S. federal scope; state plans may be stricter. Not Chinese regulations.
2026-09-25
Voluntary AI risk management framework and trustworthiness considerations for organizations.
NIST
US
AI RMF 1.0 released 2023-01-26; accessed 2026-09-25
voluntary risk management framework
contextual
A voluntary framework, not adoption rates, compliance requirements, or job forecasts.
2026-09-25
Common software technologies: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Outlook, Word, and SAP software, 5 in total.
O*NET OnLine
US
current 2026; accessed 2026-09-25
official technology profile
Occupation-specific
Common technologies are not adoption rates, automation rates, or job outcomes.
2026-09-25
Health effects of respirable crystalline silica, including silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, and chronic kidney impairment, and tiered prevention recommendations; foundry work is one exposure context.
CDC / NIOSH
US
updated 2026-07-07; accessed 2026-09-25
occupational health guidance
contextual
Health evidence and guidance do not replace local regulations and employer procedures.
2026-09-25
Lists National Institute for Metalworking Skills certifications including CNC turning operation, Machining Level I series, Metalforming Level I, and stamping series.
O*NET OnLine
US
current 2026; accessed 2026-09-25
official certification directory
Occupation-specific
A directory does not equal licensure, employer appointment, or universal requirements.
2026-09-25
No training programs found nationwide.
O*NET OnLine
US
current 2026; accessed 2026-09-25
official training discovery
Occupation-specific
Training opportunities vary by region and do not equal hiring or qualifications.
2026-09-25
National hourly and annual wage percentile table.
O*NET / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
US
2025 BLS OEWS; accessed 2026-09-25
O*NET display of BLS OEWS wage data
Occupation-specific
Retain the displayed period, statistical population, geography, and units; not an individual offer.
2026-09-25
Occupational summary entry point, including employment and change definitions.
O*NET OnLine
US
current 2026; accessed 2026-09-25
official occupation summary
Occupation-specific
For the listed O*NET occupation and U.S. market only; does not establish a Chinese mapping.
2026-09-25