SOC 51-4072 · Reading, PA metro

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

The average salary for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Reading, Pennsylvania is $51,810 a year ($24.91 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $54,470: half of the 690 people in this job in the Reading, PA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($45,960).

$51,810average per year

$24.91 / hourMedian $54,470Take-home ≈ $42,219

  • $36K10th
  • $48K25th
  • $54KMedian
  • $54K75th
  • $62K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

690people in this job
+13%vs U.S. average
#1 of 11Pennsylvania metros
97cost of living (U.S. = 100)
Advertisement

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay range in Reading

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,690 or more. The middle half of molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Reading earn between $47,510 and $54,470.

  • $36K10th
  • $48K25th
  • $54KMedian
  • $54K75th
  • $62K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$51,810$4,318$24.91
Median$54,470$4,539$26.19
Entry level (25th percentile)$47,510$3,959$22.84
Experienced (75th percentile)$54,470$4,539$26.19

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in Reading vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Reading earn 11% more than the Pennsylvania average ($46,760) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($45,960). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $44,350.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Reading$51,810$54,470$36,350$61,690690
Pennsylvania$46,760$46,760$33,810$61,3707,000
United States$45,960$44,350$34,170$61,600150,470

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary after taxes in Reading

On the average salary of $51,810, a single filer in Reading takes home about $42,219 a year, or $3,518 a month and $1,624 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.

Pennsylvania paycheck calculator: try your own salary

Advertisement

Is Reading a good place for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Reading area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $51,810 buys what about $53,379 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Reading ($49,440). A typical home costs $312,348, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $51,810 is worth in another city

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

Reading ranks 1st of 11 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

All Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries in Pennsylvania

Highest-paying cities for molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($77,490).

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

Advertisement

Does this match what you are paid?

Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.

Share your pay anonymously

Reviewed before it counts. Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Reading, PA.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Reading: questions

How much do molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make an hour in Reading?

$24.91 an hour on average, and $26.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in Reading?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,510, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic take-home pay in Reading?

About $42,219 a year ($3,518 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,810. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.

Do molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more in Reading than elsewhere?

The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($45,960).

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; area Reading, PA (39740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
  • 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.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 4.09, this job is 4.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.