SOC 51-4072 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Lakeland
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Lakeland, FL is $38,870 per year, 12.4% below the national median of $44,350.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Lakeland, FL is $38,870 per year, 12.4% below the national median of $44,350. Half of workers earn between $36,060 and $45,360. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $30,310 and the ninetieth at $49,920.
Employment stands at 200, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Palm Bay records the highest median at $49,130. Of the 429 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 342nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,310 | −31.7% |
| 25th | $36,060 | −18.7% |
| Median (50th) | $38,870 | −12.4% |
| 75th | $45,360 | +2.3% |
| 90th | $49,920 | +12.6% |
| Mean | $40,930 | −7.7% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Bay | $49,130 | 100 | |
| 2 | Port St. Lucie | $47,260 | 30 | |
| 3 | Orlando | $39,720 | 380 | |
| 4 | North Port | $39,170 | 230 | |
| 5 | Miami | $38,270 | 780 | |
| 6 | Tampa | $38,270 | 630 | |
| 7 | Jacksonville | $36,850 | 260 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lakeland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $38,870 buys what $37,592 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 15.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,870as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,592US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,870 a year, 12.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,310 to $49,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Palm Bay, at $49,130.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Lakeland, FL?
The median annual wage is $38,870, or $18.69 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 Lakeland, FL is 12.4% 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 Lakeland, FL earns more than $49,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,310 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 Palm Bay, at $49,130 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in Lakeland, FL. 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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