Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $59,320/year ($28.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers.
So what does $59K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics
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What this looks like in New Orleans-Metairie
New Orleans-Metairie sits well above the national pay line for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic, local pay runs about 28% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. Rent runs $1,121/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $42K | , |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $38K | , |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $45K | , |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $42K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $58K | +25% | 150 |
| Hawaii | $56K | +21% | 40 |
| Oregon | $53K | +14% | 410 |
| Connecticut | $53K | +14% | 170 |
| Washington | $52K | +12% | 1,130 |
| New Hampshire | $51K | +11% | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $51K | +9% | 1,200 |
| Maryland | $50K | +9% | 110 |
| Colorado | $50K | +7% | 390 |
| California | $49K | +7% | 3,590 |
| Arizona | $49K | +6% | 470 |
| Vermont | $49K | +5% | 240 |
| Maine | $49K | +5% | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | +4% | 550 |
| Delaware | $48K | +4% | 90 |
| Rhode Island | $48K | +3% | N/A |
| Kansas | $47K | +3% | 680 |
| New Jersey | $47K | +3% | 620 |
| Illinois | $47K | +2% | 1,230 |
| Georgia | $47K | +2% | 760 |
| New Mexico | $47K | +2% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $47K | +2% | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | +1% | 220 |
| Indiana | $46K | +0% | 1,520 |
| Missouri | $46K | +0% | 690 |
| Nebraska | $46K | +0% | 240 |
| Iowa | $46K | +0% | 340 |
| North Dakota | $46K | +0% | 60 |
| South Carolina | $46K | -0% | 550 |
| New York | $46K | -0% | 1,150 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -1% | 880 |
| Minnesota | $46K | -1% | 900 |
| Virginia | $45K | -2% | 720 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | -2% | 1,690 |
| Michigan | $45K | -2% | 1,470 |
| Florida | $45K | -2% | 2,410 |
| Nevada | $45K | -2% | 430 |
| Ohio | $45K | -3% | 1,560 |
| Utah | $43K | -6% | 710 |
| West Virginia | $43K | -6% | 260 |
| Idaho | $43K | -8% | 210 |
| Kentucky | $42K | -10% | 370 |
| Texas | $40K | -13% | 2,550 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -17% | 550 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -19% | 210 |
| Wyoming | $38K | -19% | 80 |
| Alabama | $37K | -20% | 820 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -23% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Orleans-Metairie 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 Orleans-Metairie?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,121/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 New Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,371/month. At HUD’s $1,121/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Orleans-Metairie?
Local pay is 28% above the national median — $59K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $59,320 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,520, and experienced molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics can clear $76,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,980/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,121/month, which eats 28.2% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic salary is worth about $64,060 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.