Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $50,580/year ($24.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $55,158 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month — about 39.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $70K | +71% | 150 |
| Maine | $59K | +43% | 440 |
| Nevada | $53K | +28% | 370 |
| Maryland | $51K | +24% | 270 |
| Washington | $48K | +16% | 1,680 |
| Minnesota | $47K | +14% | 2,840 |
| Delaware | $47K | +13% | 210 |
| Pennsylvania | $46K | +12% | 6,890 |
| Utah | $46K | +11% | 2,830 |
| Virginia | $46K | +11% | 1,130 |
| Vermont | $45K | +10% | 210 |
| Iowa | $45K | +10% | 2,770 |
| California | $45K | +10% | 9,650 |
| Kentucky | $45K | +9% | 4,740 |
| Wisconsin | $44K | +8% | 9,320 |
| Nebraska | $44K | +7% | 1,010 |
| Missouri | $44K | +7% | 3,960 |
| New Hampshire | $44K | +6% | 910 |
| Montana | $44K | +6% | 140 |
| Arizona | $43K | +5% | 1,410 |
| Ohio | $42K | +3% | 12,710 |
| Illinois | $42K | +3% | 13,180 |
| Wyoming | $42K | +2% | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $42K | +1% | 440 |
| New York | $42K | +1% | 3,390 |
| North Carolina | $42K | +1% | 7,410 |
| Indiana | $41K | +0% | 8,430 |
| Mississippi | $41K | +0% | 520 |
| South Carolina | $41K | -1% | 2,800 |
| West Virginia | $41K | -1% | 560 |
| New Mexico | $41K | -1% | 280 |
| Connecticut | $41K | -2% | 1,050 |
| Oregon | $40K | -2% | 1,820 |
| North Dakota | $40K | -3% | 90 |
| South Dakota | $39K | -6% | 800 |
| Kansas | $39K | -6% | 1,650 |
| Florida | $39K | -6% | 2,560 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -7% | 1,950 |
| Georgia | $38K | -7% | 2,790 |
| Massachusetts | $38K | -8% | 4,080 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -8% | 3,090 |
| Michigan | $38K | -8% | 12,920 |
| Texas | $38K | -8% | 7,750 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -9% | 2,140 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -9% | 180 |
| Alabama | $37K | -10% | 6,200 |
| New Jersey | $36K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Idaho | $35K | -15% | 420 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
Frequently asked questions
How much do molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $50,580 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,750, and experienced molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $58,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,352/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 39.3% 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 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $55,158 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, 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.