Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Richmond, VA
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $36,720 a year ($17.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,320 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $44,350. Pay here is 19% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $45,370. There are 0.16 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 0.17). The average (mean) salary is $39,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| 25th percentile | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Median | $36,720 | $17.66 |
| 75th percentile | $46,290 | $22.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,320 | $27.08 |
| Average (mean) | $39,150 | $18.82 |
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 | $3,060 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,530 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,412.31 |
| Weekly | $706.15 |
| Hourly | $17.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,720 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,310 | 630 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $46,090 | 140 |
| Roanoke, VA | $37,760 | 140 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,670 | 180 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $30,930 | 140 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $57,710 | $27.74 |
| Machinist | $62,650 | $30.12 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,270 | $23.69 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,670 | $22.44 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,780 | $23.93 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,960 | $23.54 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,230 | $26.07 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $52,340 | $25.16 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,270 | $24.65 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $68,000 | $32.69 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,060 | $18.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,630 | $35.40 |
| Baker | $31,500 | $15.14 |
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the Richmond, VA metro area is $36,720 a year, or $17.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $56,320 a year. The top 25% earn $46,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,390 a year, and a quarter of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $30,390 or less.
How many molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in Richmond, VA?
About 110 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.