Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Iowa

Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Iowa earn the most in Davenport (average $58,500 a year) and the least in Cedar Rapids ($44,880), across the 5 Iowa metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic average at $47,170 and the median at $45,220 for 3,670 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $45,960.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic average salary by city in Iowa

Davenport$58,500
Waterloo$54,530
Dubuque$48,460
Des Moines$44,970
Cedar Rapids$44,880

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Davenport	$58,500	$60,430	$44,450	$47,574	89
Waterloo	$54,530	$55,550	$55,550	$44,535	87
Dubuque	$48,460	$46,720	$37,800	$39,888	87
Des Moines	$44,970	$42,290	$34,660	$37,216	92
Cedar Rapids	$44,880	$37,230	$36,520	$37,147	89

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other states

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by city and state

More about pay in Iowa

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4072.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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