Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic in New Jersey is $47,360/year ($22.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $47,675 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 63.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in New Jersey?
About molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 63.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) 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, New Jersey
Entry-level molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland | $68K | +45% | 150 |
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 63.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,290/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 90% 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 New Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics?
New Jersey pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics make in New Jersey?
The median is $47,360 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,160, and experienced molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics can clear $71,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,247/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 63.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $47,675 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.