As of June 2026, Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic has an AI-exposure score of 47/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
AI Exposure Score for
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
47/100
Moderate exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High
More exposed than 26% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$44,350. About 15,900 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
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How you compare to similar Production roles
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (you)
47
Helpers--Production Workers
47
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
47
Print Binding and Finishing Workers
47
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
47
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
47
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Your tasks, by AI exposure
Automatable
- Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
Augmentable
- Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary.
- Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary.
- Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
- Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
- Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
- Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches.
- Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
- Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
- Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation.
- Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
- Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes.
- Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses.
- Select coolants and lubricants, and start their flow.
- Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
- Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
- Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
- Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
- Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
Durable
- Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
Safer adjacent roles
YOUR ROLE TODAY
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 47→
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
50
80% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$47,720
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
47
72% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$46,170
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
57
64% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$46,350
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
58
56% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$47,180
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
55
48% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$45,760
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$49,030
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
46
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$46,330
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
55
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$50,140
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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.