JobAfterNext

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.

Wages

Median annual wage, U.S.$46,170
Employment, U.S.33,190
Median hourly wage$22.20
Annual wage percentiles, U.S., May 2025
10th25thMedian75th90th
$35,850$39,280$46,170$53,000$61,530
By state (48)
StateEmploymentMedian annualLocation quotient
Alabama820$36,7301.83
Arizona470$49,0600.68
Arkansas190$35,6200.69
California3,590$49,1900.92
Colorado390$49,5300.63
Connecticut170$52,5200.47
Delaware90$47,9400.84
Florida2,410$45,0301.14
Georgia760$47,1600.73
Hawaii40$55,9900.29
Idaho210$42,6201.13
Illinois1,230$47,1800.95
Indiana1,520$46,4002.23
Iowa340$46,2201.03
Kansas680$47,3602.23
Kentucky370$41,5900.86
Louisiana100$46,8700.25
Maine120$48,6400.88
Maryland110$50,3600.18
Massachusetts1,200$50,5501.55
Michigan1,470$45,2501.56
Minnesota900$45,7901.43
Mississippi210$37,5800.86
Missouri690$46,3801.10
Montana150$57,8601.38
Nebraska240$46,2201.08
Nevada430$45,0201.28
New Hampshire160$51,4701.13
New Jersey620$47,3600.68
New Mexico$46,970
New York1,150$45,9400.56
North Carolina550$38,1900.53
North Dakota60$46,1700.61
Ohio1,560$44,5601.32
Oklahoma220$46,4600.60
Oregon410$52,7400.97
Pennsylvania1,690$45,3101.30
Rhode Island$47,610
South Carolina550$46,1101.12
Tennessee880$45,8601.26
Texas2,550$40,0100.85
Utah710$43,4401.92
Vermont240$48,6603.66
Virginia720$45,4100.82
Washington1,130$51,7801.49
West Virginia260$43,3001.73
Wisconsin550$48,0300.88
Wyoming80$37,5101.32

Similar occupations

Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.

#OccupationJob ZoneSimilarity
1Machine Feeders and Offbearers1-20.971
2Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers1-20.970
3Print Binding and Finishing Workers1-20.970
4Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters1-20.968
5Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders1-20.967
6Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1-20.966
7Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers1-20.965
8Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders1-20.964
9Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers1-20.963
10Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders1-20.963

One skill away

Among the 50 occupations most similar to Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.

OccupationSkill to buildLevel gapSimilarity
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersOperations Monitoring1.000.970
Print Binding and Finishing WorkersComplex Problem Solving0.760.970
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersComplex Problem Solving0.760.967
Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsComplex Problem Solving0.760.961
Engine and Other Machine AssemblersQuality Control Analysis0.870.958
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticOperations Monitoring1.000.957
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersComplex Problem Solving0.760.957
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersOperations Monitoring0.870.955
UpholsterersComplex Problem Solving0.880.955
Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersQuality Control Analysis1.120.948

Software to learn next

Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic, excluding software Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.

SoftwareSimilar jobs using itLift
Operational databases4 of 2015.4x
SAP software10 of 201.6x
Email software5 of 200.8x
Microsoft Windows4 of 200.8x
Web browser software3 of 200.3x
Microsoft PowerPoint4 of 200.3x

Skills

From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.

SkillTypeImportanceLevel
Operation and ControlTransferable skill 3.00 2.62
Operations MonitoringTransferable skill 2.88 2.88
Active ListeningEssential skill 2.88 2.62
Reading ComprehensionEssential skill 2.88 2.62
MonitoringEssential skill 2.75 2.50
Quality Control AnalysisTransferable skill 2.75 2.38
SpeakingEssential skill 2.75 2.38
Critical ThinkingEssential skill 2.62 2.62
Time ManagementTransferable skill 2.62 2.62
WritingEssential skill 2.62 2.50
CoordinationTransferable skill 2.62 2.38
Social PerceptivenessTransferable skill 2.62 2.38
Complex Problem SolvingTransferable skill 2.50 2.12
Management of Personnel ResourcesTransferable skill 2.50 2.00
Judgment and Decision MakingTransferable skill 2.38 2.38
Active LearningEssential skill 2.25 2.38
InstructingTransferable skill 2.25 2.12
TroubleshootingTransferable skill 2.25 2.12
Service OrientationTransferable skill 2.25 2.00
Equipment SelectionTransferable skill 2.25 1.88
Equipment MaintenanceTransferable skill 2.12not rated
NegotiationTransferable skill 2.12 1.88
RepairingTransferable skill 2.12 1.88
Learning StrategiesEssential skill 2.12 1.75
PersuasionTransferable skill 2.00 2.00
MathematicsEssential skill 2.00 1.50
Systems AnalysisTransferable skill 1.88 1.38
Systems EvaluationTransferable skill 1.88 1.38
Management of Material ResourcesTransferable skill 1.88 1.00
Technology DesignTransferable skill 1.62 0.88
Management of Financial ResourcesTransferable skill 1.62 0.75
Operations AnalysisTransferable skill 1.38 0.75
InstallationTransferable skill 1.12not rated
ProgrammingTransferable skill 1.00not rated
ScienceEssential skill 1.00not rated
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
Knowledge
NameImportanceLevel
Production and Processing 3.27 3.00
Mechanical 3.02 2.98
Administration and Management 2.89 2.57
English Language 2.65 2.67
Mathematics 2.62 2.28
Engineering and Technology 2.55 2.52
Education and Training 2.44 2.68
Customer and Personal Service 2.37 2.02
Public Safety and Security 2.36 2.39
Transportation 2.25 1.95
Administrative 2.19 2.21
Design 2.17 1.78
Physics 2.14 1.69
Chemistry 2.05 1.66
Personnel and Human Resources 2.03 1.64
Computers and Electronics 2.00 1.72
Sales and Marketing 1.95 1.47
Economics and Accounting 1.95 1.41
Building and Construction 1.80 1.36
Sociology and Anthropology 1.62not rated
Communications and Media 1.61 0.82
Psychology 1.46not rated
Law and Government 1.40not rated
Telecommunications 1.40not rated
Philosophy and Theology 1.35not rated
Medicine and Dentistry 1.31 0.41
Geography 1.22not rated
Food Production 1.20not rated
Fine Arts 1.19not rated
Foreign Language 1.15not rated
Therapy and Counseling 1.14not rated
History and Archeology 1.03not rated
Biology 1.00not rated
Abilities
NameImportanceLevel
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.50 3.00
Finger Dexterity 3.38 3.12
Manual Dexterity 3.38 2.88
Near Vision 3.25 3.50
Control Precision 3.25 3.12
Oral Comprehension 3.12 3.25
Multilimb Coordination 3.12 3.00
Selective Attention 3.12 2.75
Information Ordering 3.00 3.38
Extent Flexibility 3.00 2.75
Inductive Reasoning 3.00 2.75
Deductive Reasoning 3.00 2.62
Trunk Strength 2.88 3.12
Visualization 2.88 3.12
Far Vision 2.88 3.00
Oral Expression 2.88 3.00
Written Comprehension 2.88 3.00
Category Flexibility 2.88 2.75
Reaction Time 2.88 2.75
Speech Recognition 2.88 2.75
Problem Sensitivity 2.88 2.62
Rate Control 2.88 2.62
Speech Clarity 2.88 2.62
Perceptual Speed 2.75 2.88
Static Strength 2.75 2.75
Visual Color Discrimination 2.75 2.75
Flexibility of Closure 2.62 2.75
Written Expression 2.62 2.62
Time Sharing 2.62 2.50
Stamina 2.62 2.25
Auditory Attention 2.50 2.25
Fluency of Ideas 2.50 2.12
Response Orientation 2.50 2.00
Dynamic Strength 2.38 2.25
Wrist-Finger Speed 2.38 2.12
Explosive Strength 2.38 2.00
Originality 2.38 2.00
Hearing Sensitivity 2.25 2.25
Gross Body Equilibrium 2.25 2.12
Depth Perception 2.25 1.75
Gross Body Coordination 2.12 2.25
Speed of Closure 2.12 1.88
Number Facility 2.12 1.75
Spatial Orientation 2.12 1.50
Memorization 2.00 2.00
Glare Sensitivity 2.00 1.75
Mathematical Reasoning 1.88 1.50
Night Vision 1.88 1.25
Peripheral Vision 1.88 1.25
Sound Localization 1.75 1.25
Speed of Limb Movement 1.62 0.88
Dynamic Flexibility 1.25not rated

Software used

Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.

Where it concentrates

Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.

Metro areaEmploymentLocation quotientMedian annual
Vineland, NJ15011.42$68,490
Chambersburg, PA1007.58$43,620
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA1606.27$47,720
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC1703.45$49,720
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL1703.00$43,680
Worcester, MA2202.92$54,920
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH2302.90$37,970
Stockton-Lodi, CA1602.58$45,670
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT1702.56$39,160
Reno, NV1502.52$46,000

More metros, other thresholds