Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

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.

Also Known As:

Bed Laborer Caster Injection Molding Machine Operator Machine Operator Mold Mechanic Molder Molding Line Operator Press Operator

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in United States

Job Outlook Bright

New job opportunities are very likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

44,300

6% Change From 2024

Explore Molders, Shapers and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Load or stack filled molds in ovens, dryers, or curing boxes, or on storage racks or carts.
Assemble, insert, and adjust wires, tubes, cores, fittings, rods, or patterns into molds, using hand tools and depth gauges.
Operate and adjust controls of heating equipment to melt material or to cure, dry, or bake filled molds.
Measure and cut products to specified dimensions, using measuring and cutting instruments.
Engrave or stamp identifying symbols, letters, or numbers on products.
Align and assemble parts to produce completed products, using gauges and hand tools.
Load or stack filled molds in ovens, dryers, or curing boxes, or on storage racks or carts.
Select sizes and types of molds according to instructions.
Patch broken edges or fractures, using clay or plaster.
Withdraw cores or other loose mold members after castings solidify.
Measure ingredients and mix molding, casting material, or sealing compounds to prescribed consistencies, according to formulas.
Measure ingredients and mix molding, casting material, or sealing compounds to prescribed consistencies, according to formulas.
Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts.
Smooth surfaces of molds, using scraping tools or sandpaper.
Verify dimensions of products, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, vernier gauges, or protractors.
Bore holes or cut grates, risers, or pouring spouts in molds, using power tools.
Tap or tilt molds to ensure uniform distribution of materials.
Align and assemble parts to produce completed products, using gauges and hand tools.
Clean, finish, and lubricate molds and mold parts.
Measure and cut products to specified dimensions, using measuring and cutting instruments.
Trim or remove excess material, using scrapers, knives, or band saws.
Brush or spray mold surfaces with parting agents or insert paper into molds to ensure smoothness and prevent sticking or seepage.
Repair mold defects, such as cracks or broken edges, using patterns, mold boxes, or hand tools.
Remove excess materials and level and smooth wet mold mixtures.
Operate and adjust controls of heating equipment to melt material or to cure, dry, or bake filled molds.
Bore holes or cut grates, risers, or pouring spouts in molds, using power tools.
Read work orders or examine parts to determine parts or sections of products to be produced.
Set the proper operating temperature for each casting.
Separate models or patterns from molds and examine products for accuracy.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.