SOC 51-4072 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Decatur
Decatur, AL · 10 metro areas compared
At $44,320, median pay for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Decatur, AL tracks the national median of $44,350 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $44,320, median pay for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Decatur, AL tracks the national median of $44,350 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,810 and $107,180. The lowest tenth earn under $31,410, while the highest tenth earn more than $107,180.
Employment stands at 220, or 3.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Mobile leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $55,350. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 153rd of 241 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,410 | −29.2% |
| 25th | $37,810 | −14.7% |
| Median (50th) | $44,320 | −0.1% |
| 75th | $107,180 | +141.7% |
| 90th | $107,180 | +141.7% |
| Mean | $60,090 | +35.5% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mobile | $55,350 | 190 | |
| 2 | Daphne | $47,550 | 140 | |
| 3 | Montgomery | $46,990 | 490 | |
| 4 | Huntsville | $43,630 | 880 | |
| 5 | Birmingham | $40,530 | 780 | |
| 6 | Gadsden | $38,420 | 120 | |
| 7 | Tuscaloosa | $38,140 | — | |
| 8 | Auburn | $37,540 | 340 | |
| 9 | Florence | $37,150 | 390 | |
| 10 | Anniston | $35,220 | 250 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Decatur run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $44,320 goes as far as $49,910 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,910US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,320 a year, 0.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,410 to $107,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Mobile, at $55,350.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Decatur, AL?
The median annual wage is $44,320, or $21.31 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 Decatur, AL is 0.1% 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 Decatur, AL earns more than $107,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,410 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 Mobile, at $55,350 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 220 jobs in this occupation in Decatur, AL. 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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