Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic in Montana is $57,860/year ($27.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $59,649 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 29.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Montana?
About molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $61K | +5% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 29.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,827/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $58K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics?
Montana pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics make in Montana?
The median is $57,860 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,110, and experienced molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics can clear $62,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,852/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 29.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic salary is worth about $59,649 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.