Careers > Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

$39.59K Median Salary 5.7K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 15.1% Job Growth

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About This Career

Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.

Reported Job Titles

Bed Laborer, Caster, Fabricator, Injection Molding Machine Operator, Machine Operator, Mold Mechanic, Molder, Molding Line Operator, Press Operator

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Trunk Strength

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Manual Dexterity

Near Vision

Static Strength

Written Comprehension

Finger Dexterity

Multilimb Coordination

Oral Comprehension

Reaction Time

Category Flexibility

Control Precision

Information Ordering

Oral Expression

Problem Sensitivity

Selective Attention

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Visualization

Knowledge

Production and Processing

Mechanical

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Reading Comprehension

Active Listening

Complex Problem Solving

Critical Thinking

Monitoring

Operation and Control

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Electronic mail software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Computer aided design CAD software

Time accounting software

Inventory management software

Tools

Casting machines

Blow molding machines

Calipers

Mainframe console or dumb terminals

Pulverizing machinery

Micrometers

Screwdrivers

Blow torch

Hold down clamps

Utility knives

Core drying ovens

Foundry flasks

Squares

Thickness measuring devices

Dehydrating machinery

Foundry ladles

Foundry crucibles

Foundry molds

Threading taps

Adjustable wrenches

Die casting machine

Floor or platform scales

Metal band sawing machine

C clamps

Grease guns

Belt conveyors

Cleaning scrapers

Forklifts

Injection molding machines

Grinding machines

Protractors

Desktop computers

Abilities

Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Knowledge

Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: 1CadCam Unigraphics; Geometric CAMWorks; Siemens NX
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit
Time accounting software: Timekeeping software
Inventory management software: Assisi Software Assisi Inventory

Tools

Casting machines: Centrifugal casting machines; Permanent mold casting machines
Blow molding machines:
Calipers: Dial calipers; Digital calipers; Vernier calipers
Mainframe console or dumb terminals: Computer terminals
Pulverizing machinery: Pulverizers
Micrometers:
Screwdrivers: Mini screwdriver sets
Blow torch: Underwater blow torches
Hold down clamps: Holding clamps
Utility knives: Precision knives
Core drying ovens: Drying oven units
Foundry flasks: Foundry molding flasks
Squares:
Thickness measuring devices: Digital thickness gauges
Dehydrating machinery: Rotary dryers
Foundry ladles: Foundry transfer ladles
Foundry crucibles: Melting kettles
Foundry molds: Metalsmith molds
Threading taps: Tap sets
Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable hand wrenches
Die casting machine: Cold chamber die casting machines; Hot chamber die casting machines
Floor or platform scales: Industrial floor scales
Metal band sawing machine: Bandsaws
C clamps:
Grease guns:
Belt conveyors: Conveyer belt systems
Cleaning scrapers:
Forklifts:
Injection molding machines:
Grinding machines: Profile grinders
Protractors:
Desktop computers: