Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
The median pay for a molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Tuscaloosa, AL is $36,560/year ($17.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.72), which stretches that salary to about $41,678 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,169/month — about 46.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $37K get you in Tuscaloosa?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tuscaloosa’s Regional Price Parity (87.72). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tuscaloosa, AL
Entry-level molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $24K 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 Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median is $36,560 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,930, and experienced molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $47,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Tuscaloosa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,479/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,169/month, which eats 47.2% 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 Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa has a Regional Price Parity of 87.72 (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 $41,678 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.