Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
The median pay for a molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN is $35,410/year ($17.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.43), which stretches that salary to about $37,900 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,242/month — about 50.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette-West Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (93.43). 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
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Entry-level molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $29K 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median is $35,410 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,410, and experienced molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $59,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,451/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,242/month, which eats 50.7% 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 molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Lafayette-West Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 93.43 (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 $37,900 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.