Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic Salary

It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 47.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,180/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.

The 10th-percentile wage — what new molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,018/month.

Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $37K here vs. $46K nationally.

Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -21%.

The median is $36,580 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,630, and experienced molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastics can clear $45,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,482/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,180/month, which eats 47.5% 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.

Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 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 $36,580 in national-average purchasing power.

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.