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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Foundry Mold and Coremaker Salary

Foundry Mold and Coremakers earn a median $48,110 a year nationally. Production Occupations

U.S. median
$48,110
$23.13 per hour
Range
$37,160 – $62,640
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
12,790
across the U.S.
▲5.3%
Pay trend: The median for foundry mold and coremakers in the U.S. rose from $45,700 (May 2024) to $48,110 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 2.9%.

What foundry mold and coremakers do

Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-23.0% (declining)
Openings per year
800

Employment of foundry mold and coremakers is projected to shrink 23.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Foundry Mold and Coremaker take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Foundry Mold and Coremaker
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$40,836
per year · effective tax rate 15.1%
$3,403Monthly
$1,702Twice a month
$1,571Every 2 weeks
$19.63Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,593
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,983
  • Medicare (1.45%)$698
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$40,836

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$37,160$17.87$32,038
25th percentile$41,870$20.13$35,823
Median (50th)$48,110$23.13$40,836
75th percentile$57,350$27.57$48,261
90th percentile (top earners)$62,640$30.12$52,511

Foundry Mold and Coremaker salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Oregon $67,060+3.1%$50,969 $48,790 – $79,610270
Missouri $61,480+3.7%$49,627 $51,630 – $61,680590
Illinois $57,110+18.2%$45,386 $41,240 – $62,640390
Minnesota $56,840+14.0%$45,509 $51,020 – $76,650470
Massachusetts $55,940+13.0%$44,551 $47,440 – $77,73060
New Jersey $55,210—$45,039 $49,610 – $62,710330
New York $54,380+5.0%$43,535 $39,220 – $73,390110
Alabama $51,040+11.6%$40,904 $37,180 – $55,340850
Indiana $49,860+4.3%$40,801 $37,870 – $59,920720
Iowa $49,060+7.4%$40,387 $43,250 – $57,580480
Ohio $49,040+4.6%$41,017 $39,420 – $64,080980
Washington $48,440−0.5%$41,102 $36,940 – $63,500160
Kansas $47,910+13.6%$38,802 $32,120 – $55,000150
Connecticut $47,310−7.2%$38,990 $36,290 – $104,080110
California $46,930+9.7%$38,412 $38,280 – $61,970420
North Carolina $46,910−4.3%$38,509 $32,270 – $62,100260
Georgia $46,220−10.1%$37,542 $37,290 – $63,340220
Michigan $46,150+3.7%$37,551 $38,180 – $59,5402,050
Nebraska $45,910−1.9%$37,859 $38,960 – $57,50090
Utah $44,970−1.4%$37,256 $35,100 – $61,000110
Pennsylvania $44,750+4.3%$36,763 $38,280 – $57,9001,230
Wisconsin $44,130−0.7%$36,478 $32,480 – $62,4901,270
Kentucky $43,610+6.5%$35,812 $26,940 – $62,640—
Oklahoma $43,550+23.9%$35,758 $35,670 – $47,600120
New Hampshire $43,210−3.0%$36,899 $37,940 – $54,89040
Virginia $43,130−7.9%$35,169 $40,090 – $71,410110
Colorado $42,240−7.0%$34,970 $39,270 – $48,44040
Arkansas $42,200+14.0%$34,655 $37,230 – $63,06060
Texas $42,190+13.8%$36,080 $35,020 – $51,770230
South Carolina $41,100+17.2%$33,895 $36,680 – $48,910150
Mississippi $39,560+0.5%$33,116 $29,420 – $46,66070
Florida $38,330+8.2%$32,978 $34,780 – $70,160140
Tennessee $37,310−13.5%$32,159 $33,790 – $45,400190

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,350High school diploma or equivalent-3.4%
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920High school diploma or equivalent-8.9%
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,720High school diploma or equivalent+0.7%
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,750High school diploma or equivalent-9.5%
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,030High school diploma or equivalent-17.2%
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180High school diploma or equivalent+0.6%
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,080High school diploma or equivalent-9.5%
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,550High school diploma or equivalent-10.8%
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,330High school diploma or equivalent-10.5%
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060High school diploma or equivalent-6.8%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a foundry mold and coremaker make?

The national median salary for foundry mold and coremakers is $48,110 a year ($23.13 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,160 and the top 10% earn over $62,640. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays foundry mold and coremakers the most?

Oregon has the highest median pay at $67,060.

How many foundry mold and coremakers are there in the U.S.?

About 12,790 people work as foundry mold and coremakers nationwide.