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

Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Kentucky earn the most in Lexington (average $53,470 a year) and the least in Owensboro ($39,150), across the 4 Kentucky metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic average at $50,210 and the median at $47,110 for 4,340 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 Kentucky

Lexington$53,470
Bowling Green$48,780
Louisville$45,180
Owensboro$39,150

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Lexington	$53,470	$48,710	$46,370	$41,919	93
Bowling Green	$48,780	$45,490	$40,910	$38,809	90
Louisville	$45,180	$42,510	$35,360	$36,024	93
Owensboro	$39,150	$36,430	$28,280	$31,688	89

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%). 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 Kentucky

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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