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

US SOC code 51-4072. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/51-4072

Also called: Injection molding operator, Mold setter, Mold technician, Die cast technician, Diecast machine operator.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **150,470** US metal and plastic molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, with median pay of **$44,350** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **172,520**, in May 2019. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_0880_1946.pdf) of **180,000** from 1946, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era in this work: All-electric injection machines + Industry 4.0 IIoT sensors + MES integration, 2000 to 2020.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=51-4072&ioType=o).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1849
- Latest US employment: 150,470 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Latest US median pay: $44,350 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [11]
- Outlook: -3.4% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [24]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 94111)
  - Employment, 2020: 15,905. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [9]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income, the EXACT SUM of the cited cells for NOC 94111 + 94101 (this US occupation has no single NOC unit-group equivalent), combined as Plastics processing and foundry molding/casting machine operators, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. A sum of cited cells, not an estimate. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$48,000. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [14]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 94111 Plastics processing machine operators, the dominant constituent of the combined Plastics processing and foundry molding/casting machine operators (NOC 94111 + 94101), Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). This is the cited median of the dominant group, not a blend of the constituent medians. Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 28 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1946 | 180,000 (estimate) | $2,600 | Est., FRASER / BLS Bulletin 880 [1] |
| 1954 | 155,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., FRASER / BLS Bulletin 1162 [2] |
| 1970 | 230,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., IPUMS USA [3] |
| 1990 | 280,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., American Foundry Society [4] |
| 2000 | 265,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., O\*NET 51-4072.00 [5] |
| 2003 | 144,140 | $23,930 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [6] |
| 2004 | 156,480 | $24,180 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [6] |
| 2005 | 157,080 | $25,060 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [6] |
| 2006 | 155,670 | $25,560 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [6] |
| 2007 | 147,850 | $26,430 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [6] |
| 2008 | 145,760 | $27,390 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [6] |
| 2009 | 126,840 | $27,880 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [6] |
| 2010 | 114,760 | $28,160 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [6] |
| 2011 | 118,300 | $28,480 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [6] |
| 2012 | 124,440 | $28,630 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [6] |
| 2013 | 124,810 | $28,450 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [6] |
| 2014 | 128,540 | $28,810 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [6] |
| 2015 | 135,550 | $29,340 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [6] |
| 2016 | 145,560 | $30,480 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [6] |
| 2017 | 154,860 | $31,090 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [6] |
| 2018 | 164,110 | $31,480 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [6] |
| 2019 | 172,520 | $32,130 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [6] |
| 2020 | 155,020 | $33,100 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [6] |
| 2021 | 163,210 | $36,370 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [6] |
| 2022 | 165,820 | $37,050 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [6] |
| 2023 | 158,980 | $38,870 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [6] |
| 2024 | 154,820 | $41,230 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [6] |
| 2025 | 150,470 | $44,350 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [6] |

## Sources (86)

### Employment series

1. [FRASER / BLS Bulletin 880 — "Employment Outlook in Foundry Occupations" (1946)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_0880_1946.pdf), Bureau of Labor Statistics
2. [FRASER / BLS Bulletin 1162 — "Mobility of Molders and Coremakers, 1940-1952" (1954)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/mobility-molders-coremakers-1940-1952-a-study-work-experience-training-personal-characteristics-workers-a-skilled-occupation-4473/fulltext), Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. [IPUMS USA — 1970 Census Occupation Variables (occ1970 Molding Machine Operatives)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
4. [American Foundry Society — "US Metalcasting Industry Impact on US Jobs and the Economy" (foundry plant counts, 1991 reference)](https://www.afsinc.org/us-metalcasting-industry-impact-us-jobs-economy), American Foundry Society
5. [O\*NET 51-4072.00 — BLS occupational profile (SOC 2000 code introduction reference)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4072.00), O\*NET / BLS
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
8. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
9. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

10. [FRASER / BLS Bulletin 880 — "Employment Outlook in Foundry Occupations" (wage context, 1946)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_0880_1946.pdf), Bureau of Labor Statistics
11. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
12. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
13. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
14. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

15. [AFS Birmingham — "Timeline of Casting" (1849 Sturgiss die-casting device; 1822 Church precedent)](https://www.afsbirmingham.com/timeline-of-casting.html), American Foundry Society / Birmingham Chapter
16. [Sunrise Metal — "200 Year Technology Revolution: Die Casting History" (Doehler 1905, Pfolak 1927, zinc alloy 1918)](https://www.sunrise-metal.com/die-casting-history/), Sunrise Metal
17. [Plastics Hall of Fame — "James R.W. Hendry" (inventor of screw injection machine, Saginaw MI, 1946)](https://plasticshof.org/members/james-r-w-hendry/), Plastics Hall of Fame
18. [SyBridge — "A Brief History of Plastic Injection Molding" (screw machine, 1946; plastics exceed steel, 1970s)](https://sybridge.com/a-brief-history-of-plastic-injection-molding/), SyBridge Technologies
19. [Reliant Plastics — "History of Injection Molding Technology" (CAD/CAM and microprocessor controls, 1980s)](https://reliantplastics.com/blog/injection-molding/the-history-of-the-plastic-injection-molding-machine/), Reliant Plastics
20. [American Foundry Society — "US Metalcasting Industry Impact on US Jobs and the Economy" (foundry consolidation, 3,200 plants in 1991)](https://www.afsinc.org/us-metalcasting-industry-impact-us-jobs-economy), American Foundry Society
21. [Plastics Machinery Manufacturing — "Is the Era of Truly Autonomous Plastics Production on the Horizon?" (IIoT and Industry 4.0 context, 2025)](https://www.plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com/features/blog/55332371/is-the-era-of-truly-autonomous-plastics-production-on-the-horizon), Plastics Machinery Manufacturing
22. [ENGEL — "ENGEL presents the evolution from inject 4.0 to inject AI at K 2025: World premiere of the first autonomous injection moulding cell"](https://www.engelglobal.com/en/company/media-center/news-press/engel-presents-the-evolution-from-inject-4-0-to-inject-ai-at-k-2025-world-premiere-of-the-first-autonomous-injection-moulding-cell), ENGEL Austria
23. [BLS National Employment Matrix — 51-4072 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Operators (2024-2034 projections)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=51-4072&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Forecasts and exposure studies

24. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 51-4072 Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (2025: 150.0 thousand; 2035: 144.9 thousand; -3.4%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=51-4072&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Historical notes

25. [AFS Birmingham — "Timeline of Casting" (1849 Sturgiss patent)](https://www.afsbirmingham.com/timeline-of-casting.html), American Foundry Society / Birmingham Chapter
26. [Xometry — "Plastic Injection Molding History" (Hyatt brothers, 1872)](https://www.xometry.com/resources/injection-molding/plastic-injection-molding-history/), Xometry
27. [Sunrise Metal — "200 Year Technology Revolution: Die Casting History" (Doehler 1905, Toledo automotive market)](https://www.sunrise-metal.com/die-casting-history/), Sunrise Metal
28. [Plastics Hall of Fame — "James R.W. Hendry" (inventor of the screw injection machine, 80+ patents)](https://plasticshof.org/members/james-r-w-hendry/), Plastics Hall of Fame
29. [SyBridge — "A Brief History of Plastic Injection Molding" (US plastics surpassing steel by volume, 1970s)](https://sybridge.com/a-brief-history-of-plastic-injection-molding/), SyBridge Technologies
30. [OSHA — "Silica, Crystalline: Background Information" (1970s standards; 2016 update to lower PEL)](https://www.osha.gov/silica-crystalline/background-info), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
31. [American Foundry Society — "US Metalcasting Industry Impact on US Jobs and the Economy" (foundry plant counts: 6,150 in 1955, 3,200 in 1991)](https://www.afsinc.org/us-metalcasting-industry-impact-us-jobs-economy), American Foundry Society
32. [ENGEL — "ENGEL presents the evolution from inject 4.0 to inject AI at K 2025: World premiere of the first autonomous injection moulding cell" (October 2025)](https://www.engelglobal.com/en/company/media-center/news-press/engel-presents-the-evolution-from-inject-4-0-to-inject-ai-at-k-2025-world-premiere-of-the-first-autonomous-injection-moulding-cell), ENGEL Austria

### Predecessors & successors

33. [FRASER / BLS Bulletin 880 — "Employment Outlook in Foundry Occupations" (1946, foundry molder skill lineage)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_0880_1946.pdf), Bureau of Labor Statistics
34. [FRASER / BLS Bulletin 1162 — "Mobility of Molders and Coremakers, 1940-1952"](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/mobility-molders-coremakers-1940-1952-a-study-work-experience-training-personal-characteristics-workers-a-skilled-occupation-4473/fulltext), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters (51-4072.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4072.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS OOH — Metal and Plastic Machine Workers: outlook 2024-2034](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [ENGEL — inject AI autonomous injection moulding cell, K 2025](https://www.engelglobal.com/en/company/media-center/news-press/engel-presents-the-evolution-from-inject-4-0-to-inject-ai-at-k-2025-world-premiere-of-the-first-autonomous-injection-moulding-cell), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Plastics Machinery Manufacturing — autonomous plastics production horizon](https://www.plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com/features/blog/55332371/is-the-era-of-truly-autonomous-plastics-production-on-the-horizon), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Sentinel Vision / Zebra — 3D LaserScan 100% inline inspection, Oct 2025](https://www.zebra.com/us/en/about-zebra/newsroom/press-releases/2025/sentinel-vision-improves-injection-molding-inspection-with-zebra-technologies-machine-vision.html), accessed 2026-06-05
- [TEDE Solutions — closed-loop AI quality control for injection molding 2025](https://web.archive.org/web/20260511004523/https://www.tedesolutions.pl/en/blog/closed-loop-ai-quality-control-zero-defects-injection), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BBM — AI-powered blow molding control system debut, Plastics Machinery Manufacturing 2025](https://www.plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com/blow-molding/article/55360697/bbm-debuts-ai-powered-control-system), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.