SOC 51-4072 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Southern South Carolina
Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area · 5 metro areas compared
In Southern South Carolina, SC the median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic reaches $55,590 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Southern South Carolina, SC the median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic reaches $55,590 a year. That is 25.3% more than the national median of $44,350. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,490 and $58,190. The lowest tenth earn under $35,300, while the highest tenth earn more than $58,190.
The area has 160 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 3.25 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Columbia leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $55,670. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 99th of 217 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,300 | −20.4% |
| 25th | $46,490 | +4.8% |
| Median (50th) | $55,590 | +25.3% |
| 75th | $58,190 | +31.2% |
| 90th | $58,190 | +31.2% |
| Mean | $52,320 | +18.0% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $55,670 | 230 | |
| 2 | Charleston | $46,760 | 160 | |
| 3 | Spartanburg | $46,530 | 710 | |
| 4 | Florence | $45,820 | 30 | |
| 5 | Greenville | $41,630 | 820 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southern South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $55,590 goes as far as $59,328 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 33.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,590as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$59,328US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,590 a year, 25.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,300 to $58,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 160 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Columbia, at $55,670.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Southern South Carolina, SC?
The median annual wage is $55,590, or $26.72 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 Southern South Carolina, SC is 25.3% 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 Southern South Carolina, SC earns more than $58,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,300 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 Columbia, at $55,670 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 160 jobs in this occupation in Southern South Carolina, SC. 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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