Also called: Molding and Casting Machine Operators
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic build operations monitoring, operation and control and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (93%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 93% | $45,760 | +3% | None |
| 2 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 92% | $46,350 | +5% | None |
| 3 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 89% | $46,170 | +4% | None |
| 4 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 86% | $46,460 | +5% | None |
| 5 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 84% | $43,380 | −2% | None |
| 6 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 83% | $46,570 | +5% | None |
| 7 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 82% | $53,710 | +21% | None |
| 8 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 82% | $42,660 | −4% | None |
| 9 | Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 81% | $39,530 | −11% | None |
| 10 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 81% | $42,770 | −4% | None |
Compared with Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, median $44,350. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
93% skill match · $45,760 · +3% pay
Operation and Control · Systems Analysis · Technology Design
92% skill match · $46,350 · +5% pay
Operation and Control · Operations Monitoring · Coordination
89% skill match · $46,170 · +4% pay
Management of Material Resources · Systems Analysis · Management of Personnel Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (93% skill match, median $45,760), Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (92% skill match, median $46,350) and Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (89% skill match, median $46,170), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 15 pay more than molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at the median. The biggest increases: Industrial Machinery Mechanics (+45%, $64,520), Riggers (+41%, $62,640) and Continuous Mining Machine Operators (+39%, $61,810).
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.