SOC 51-4072 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Arkansas
Arkansas · 5 metro areas compared
At $44,790, median pay for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Arkansas tracks the national median of $44,350 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $44,790, median pay for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Arkansas tracks the national median of $44,350 closely. Pay ranges from under $31,110 at the tenth percentile to more than $58,940 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,170 to $49,610.
The area has 2,520 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.00 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Arkansas ranks number 25th out of 49 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Fayetteville records the highest median at $48,430. Of the 673 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 413th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,110 | −29.9% |
| 25th | $36,170 | −18.4% |
| Median (50th) | $44,790 | +1.0% |
| 75th | $49,610 | +11.9% |
| 90th | $58,940 | +32.9% |
| Mean | $44,410 | +0.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $48,430 | 450 | |
| 2 | Fort Smith | $47,850 | 200 | |
| 3 | Jonesboro | $46,140 | 100 | |
| 4 | Little Rock | $45,410 | 480 | |
| 5 | Hot Springs | $31,110 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $44,790 goes as far as $51,542 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,790as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,542US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,790 a year, 1.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,110 to $58,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,520 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 25th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fayetteville, at $48,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $44,790, or $21.53 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $44,350, so pay in Arkansas is 1.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arkansas earns more than $58,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,110 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fayetteville, at $48,430 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,520 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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