Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in New Mexico
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in New Mexico earn a median of $41,990 a year ($20.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,200 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $44,350. New Mexico ranks 38th of 49 states for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic pay. There are 0.29 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $41,670, close to the median.
Pay range for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in New Mexico
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,110 | $15.92 |
| 25th percentile | $41,990 | $20.19 |
| Median | $41,990 | $20.19 |
| 75th percentile | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,200 | $23.65 |
| Average (mean) | $41,670 | $20.04 |
Half of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,499.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,749.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,615 |
| Weekly | $807.50 |
| Hourly | $20.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Mexico at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,560 |
| Maryland | $63,460 |
| Maine | $59,230 |
| Minnesota | $49,590 |
| Nevada | $49,590 |
| Nebraska | $48,500 |
| Washington | $48,290 |
| Colorado | $48,200 |
| North Dakota | $47,780 |
| New Hampshire | $47,610 |
Related jobs in New Mexico
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,840 | $28.77 |
| Machinist | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,430 | $18.96 |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | $38,560 | $18.54 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | $50,260 | $24.17 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | $53,080 | $25.52 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $64,640 | $31.08 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $48,190 | $23.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,340 | $18.91 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4072. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in New Mexico?
The median salary for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in New Mexico is $41,990 a year, or $20.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in New Mexico?
The top 10% of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in New Mexico earn at least $49,200 a year. The top 25% earn $43,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in New Mexico?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,110 a year, and a quarter of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $41,990 or less.
How many molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in New Mexico?
About 250 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in New Mexico, not counting the self-employed.