Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Reading, PA
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $54,470 a year ($26.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,690 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $44,350. Pay here is 16% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,760. There are 4.0 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,810, close to the median.
Pay range for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| 25th percentile | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| Median | $54,470 | $26.19 |
| 75th percentile | $54,470 | $26.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,690 | $29.66 |
| Average (mean) | $51,810 | $24.91 |
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 | $4,539.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,269.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,095 |
| Weekly | $1,047.50 |
| Hourly | $26.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,470 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | $48,780 | 440 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,930 | 850 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $46,960 | 140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $46,510 | 1,150 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $45,970 | 360 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $45,570 | 800 |
| Williamsport, PA | $45,270 | 190 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $45,020 | 350 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $44,870 | 80 |
| Erie, PA | $36,530 | 860 |
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 |
See Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,760 | $26.33 |
| Machinist | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,090 | $25.53 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,390 | $24.22 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | $68,990 | $33.17 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,860 | $25.90 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,490 | $26.20 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $55,230 | $26.55 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $65,440 | $31.46 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | $41,400 | $19.91 |
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the Reading, PA metro area is $54,470 a year, or $26.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $61,690 a year. The top 25% earn $54,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,350 a year, and a quarter of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $47,510 or less.
How many molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in Reading, PA?
About 690 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.