Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners: Salary, Job Outlook & Education | Career Matchup
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Career comparison

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic vs Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Compare the evidence side by side. Career Matchup shows the source data without declaring an overall winner.

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01 · Compensation

Pay and employment

Median annual wage

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,350
89% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Mean annual wage

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,960
86% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$53,240
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Hourly median wage

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$21.32
89% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$24.07
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Hourly mean wage

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$22.10
86% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$25.59
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

10th percentile annual wage

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$34,170
97% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$35,350
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

25th percentile annual wage

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$37,270
91% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$40,800
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

75th percentile annual wage

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,020
82% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$62,150
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

90th percentile annual wage

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$61,600
80% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$77,170
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

National employment

2025

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic150,470
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners5,600
6% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Release: May 2025 · Reference/year: 2025 · Occupation code: 51-4194

02 · Outlook

Employment outlook

Bars compare the same metric across the two careers. They are not an overall score.

Projected employment change

2025-2035

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic-3.4%
50% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners-6.8%
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Average annual openings

2025-2035

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic13.8k
100% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners0.5k
6% relative comparison

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

03 · Preparation

Education and training

Typical entry-level education

2025-2035

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersHigh school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

Related work experience

2025-2035

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNot available

Value missing or suppressed in source.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNot available

Value missing or suppressed in source.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

On-the-job training

2025-2035

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4072

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersModerate-term on-the-job training

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Employment Projections
Release: 2025-2035 · Reference/year: 2025-2035 · Occupation code: 51-4194

04 · Context and fit

Work context

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Contact with others

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.9 raw · CX scale
73% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.3 raw · CX scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Time pressure

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4 raw · CX scale
74% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners3.5 raw · CX scale
63% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Spend time standing

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.6 raw · CX scale
89% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners3.5 raw · CX scale
63% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Exposed to contaminants

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.5 raw · CX scale
88% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.6 raw · CX scale
40% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Exposed to disease or infections

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1.1 raw · CX scale
3% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNot available

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Exposed to hazardous equipment

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4.2 raw · CX scale
81% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners3 raw · CX scale
49% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

04 · Context and fit

Skills

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Active listening

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Monitoring

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Reading comprehension

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3 raw · LV scale
43% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Critical thinking

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.6 raw · LV scale
37% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.8 raw · LV scale
39% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Writing

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.5 raw · LV scale
36% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Speaking

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.4 raw · LV scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Active learning

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.4 raw · LV scale
34% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Learning strategies

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.3 raw · LV scale
32% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNot available

Source metadata unavailable

Mathematics

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNot available

Source metadata unavailable

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.9 raw · LV scale
41% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

04 · Context and fit

Work styles

Only compatible O*NET scales are compared together. Relative bars preserve the source scale interpretation.

Dependability

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.2 raw · WI scale
86% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.1 raw · WI scale
86% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Attention to detail

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2.4 raw · WI scale
90% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners2.7 raw · WI scale
95% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Stress tolerance

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1 raw · WI scale
67% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners0.9 raw · WI scale
64% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Cooperation

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0.4 raw · WI scale
57% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4072.00

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners0 raw · WI scale
50% relative

Source: O*NET Resource Center · O*NET Database
Release: 31.0 · Reference/year: August 2026 · Occupation code: 51-4194.00

Explore your next step

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Read the full profile, preparation, skills and source details.

  • Use the career comparison checklist

Sources

Each side retains the source release, reference period, occupation code, and file hash used for the comparison.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 51-4072 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 51-4072 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 51-4072.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release May 2025 · Reference 2025

Occupation code 51-4194 · SHA-256 b5855a37f3e03e779f6fbf173d3bbc94aeeff33426aef32fa95ce6d025bab1af

Employment Projections

Source-backed

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Release 2025-2035 · Reference 2025-2035

Occupation code 51-4194 · SHA-256 a7d060f0576f7d4f5b829b9a0bb4a6c11a12766d159ebb0e07aab5bd2e7583c5

O*NET Database

Source-backed

O*NET Resource Center

Release 31.0 · Reference August 2026

Occupation code 51-4194.00 · SHA-256 c63ad00a8e45f3d3ef8e1529fcf8864d2279f2dfcb98737436818f5664781b04

Read the data in context

Career Matchup does not declare an overall winner. National estimates can hide local variation, and O*NET relative values describe the named construct rather than whether a career is better.

Career Matchup is an independent comparison tool.

Data sourcesData availabilityAboutFree guideContactPrivacyTermsData: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET® Database.