SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries. Excludes “Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” (51-4072) and “Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic” (51-9195).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 51-4071.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $37,160 | $3,097 | $715 | $17.87 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $41,870 | $3,489 | $805 | $20.13 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $48,110 | $4,009 | $925 | $23.13 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $57,350 | $4,779 | $1,103 | $27.57 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $62,640 | $5,220 | $1,205 | $30.12 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Foundry Mold and Coremakers is $48,110, which is 6% lower. Among the 105 occupations of the field Production, it ranks number 48 by median pay. With 12,790 jobs, it makes up about 0.8 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Foundry Mold and Coremakers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Oregon ($67,060), Missouri ($61,480) and Illinois ($57,110). The lowest was in Tennessee ($37,310), Florida ($38,330) and Mississippi ($39,560). The most jobs were in Michigan (2,050), Wisconsin (1,270) and Pennsylvania (1,230). The occupation is most concentrated in Michigan, where its share of all jobs is 5.7 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 270 | $67,060 | $62,510 | $32.24 |
| Missouri | 590 | $61,480 | $60,410 | $29.56 |
| Illinois | 390 | $57,110 | $54,530 | $27.46 |
| Minnesota | 470 | $56,840 | $60,950 | $27.33 |
| Massachusetts | 60 | $55,940 | $59,070 | $26.90 |
| New Jersey | 330 | $55,210 | $55,030 | $26.54 |
| New York | 110 | $54,380 | $54,760 | $26.14 |
| Alabama | 850 | $51,040 | $49,360 | $24.54 |
| Indiana | 720 | $49,860 | $49,870 | $23.97 |
| Iowa | 480 | $49,060 | $50,270 | $23.59 |
| Ohio | 980 | $49,040 | $51,240 | $23.58 |
| Washington | 160 | $48,440 | $50,820 | $23.29 |
| Kansas | 150 | $47,910 | $45,220 | $23.04 |
| Connecticut | 110 | $47,310 | $56,470 | $22.75 |
| California | 420 | $46,930 | $49,160 | $22.56 |
| North Carolina | 260 | $46,910 | $47,710 | $22.55 |
| Georgia | 220 | $46,220 | $49,160 | $22.22 |
| Michigan | 2,050 | $46,150 | $49,300 | $22.19 |
| Nebraska | 90 | $45,910 | $46,000 | $22.07 |
| Utah | 110 | $44,970 | $45,150 | $21.62 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,230 | $44,750 | $46,920 | $21.51 |
| Wisconsin | 1,270 | $44,130 | $45,130 | $21.22 |
| Kentucky | not published | $43,610 | $44,740 | $20.97 |
| Oklahoma | 120 | $43,550 | $41,510 | $20.94 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | $43,210 | $44,580 | $20.77 |
| Virginia | 110 | $43,130 | $52,600 | $20.73 |
| Colorado | 40 | $42,240 | $43,790 | $20.31 |
| Arkansas | 60 | $42,200 | $45,610 | $20.29 |
| Texas | 230 | $42,190 | $42,650 | $20.29 |
| South Carolina | 150 | $41,100 | $43,750 | $19.76 |
| Mississippi | 70 | $39,560 | $40,150 | $19.02 |
| Florida | 140 | $38,330 | $44,600 | $18.43 |
| Tennessee | 190 | $37,310 | $37,790 | $17.94 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,540 a year
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,250 a year
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,220 a year
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$48,040 a year
- Medical Appliance Technicians$48,030 a year
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920 a year
Common questions
How much do Foundry Mold and Coremakers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $48,110 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,160 and the highest-paid 10% more than $62,640.
How many people work as Foundry Mold and Coremakers?
About 12,790 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.