Career comparison
Foundry Moldmaker vs. Molding Machine Operator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Foundry moldmakers earn more at the median ($48,110 vs. $44,350), while molding machine operators usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Foundry moldmakers build sand molds and cores that shape metal castings. Molding machine operators run injection molding and die casting machines that make plastic and metal parts.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Foundry Moldmaker | Molding Machine Operator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $48,110 ($23.13/hr) | $44,350 ($21.32/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $37,160 – $62,640 | $34,170 – $61,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -23.0% (a projected decline) | -3.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 800 | 13,800 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few months on the job | A few months on the job |
| Key credential | AFS training | Injection molding certification |
| Work setting | Moldmakers work in dusty foundries.. | Operators work in plastics and die casting plants.. |
What each job does
Foundry Moldmaker
- Pack sand molds
- Make cores
- Set cores
- Close molds
- Repair molds
Molding Machine Operator
- Run molding machines
- Load material
- Remove and trim parts
- Inspect quality
- Adjust settings
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, shift work, and indoor work. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose foundry moldmaker if…
- I like hands-on work
- I don’t mind dust
- I like teamwork
Choose molding machine operator if…
- I like machines
- I’m detail-oriented
- I can do repetitive work
Still torn? Take the Foundry Moldmaker fit quiz and the Molding Machine Operator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, foundry moldmaker or molding machine operator?
Foundry Moldmakers earn more at the median: $48,110 versus $44,350 for molding machine operators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Molding Machine Operators typically train faster (A few months on the job) than foundry moldmakers (A few months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects molding machine operators to grow -3.4% from 2025–35, compared with -23.0% for foundry moldmakers.