SOC 51-4072 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Battle Creek
Battle Creek, MI · 10 metro areas compared
At $41,070, median pay for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Battle Creek, MI tracks the national median of $44,350 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $41,070, median pay for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Battle Creek, MI tracks the national median of $44,350 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $38,810 and $47,560. The lowest tenth earn under $35,810, while the highest tenth earn more than $62,260.
The area has 120 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.29 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Saginaw leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $74,130. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 168th of 223 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,810 | −19.3% |
| 25th | $38,810 | −12.5% |
| Median (50th) | $41,070 | −7.4% |
| 75th | $47,560 | +7.2% |
| 90th | $62,260 | +40.4% |
| Mean | $46,280 | +4.4% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saginaw | $74,130 | 280 | |
| 2 | Midland | $49,270 | 60 | |
| 3 | Lansing | $49,040 | 220 | |
| 4 | Muskegon | $45,300 | 210 | |
| 5 | Detroit | $39,790 | 5,280 | |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | $39,170 | 270 | |
| 7 | Kalamazoo | $38,820 | 660 | |
| 8 | Traverse City | $38,070 | 60 | |
| 9 | Jackson | $38,020 | 140 | |
| 10 | Grand Rapids | $37,760 | 3,150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Battle Creek run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $41,070 goes as far as $42,692 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$41,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,692US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $41,070 a year, 7.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,810 to $62,260 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Saginaw, at $74,130.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Battle Creek, MI?
The median annual wage is $41,070, or $19.75 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 Battle Creek, MI is 7.4% lower. 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 Battle Creek, MI earns more than $62,260 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,810 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 Saginaw, at $74,130 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in Battle Creek, MI. 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.
Explore related data