Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC Code: 51-4072
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments. This career typically requires moderate-term on-the-job training (months to 1 year). With an AI-proof score of 81.0/100, this role has high resilience to automation. Key skills include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring.
AI-Proof Score: 81.0 — Very High
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Median Salary
$41,230
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Job Growth
-3.8%
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Training Time
Moderate-term on-the-job training (months to 1 year)
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Job Zone
Zone 2 / 5
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Training Cost
~$5,000
Key Skills
- •Operations Monitoring
- •Operation and Control
- •Active Listening
- •Quality Control Analysis
- •Monitoring
- •Reading Comprehension
- •Critical Thinking
Common Tasks
- ✓Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- ✓Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
- ✓Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
- ✓Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
- ✓Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
Training & Resources
Why AI-Proof?
- ✅Requires hands-on physical presence and dexterity
- ✅Demands human empathy, judgment, and trust
- ✅Operates in unpredictable, variable environments
- ✅Social and regulatory barriers to full automation