Foundry mold and coremakers
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Foundry mold and coremakers make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries. The role reports a median annual salary of $45,700 in the US and is projected to decline by 26% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.52 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Active Listening.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £37,058 a year for Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5212). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Foundry mold and coremakers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification ITI trade 'Foundryman' (1 year, after Class 10) under the Craftsmen Training Scheme[1][2]
- 2 · Certification Pass the all-India trade test to get the National Trade Certificate (NTC) from DGT[1]
- 3 · First role Moulder or core maker in a foundry[1]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- DGT — Foundryman trade syllabus (Craftsmen Training Scheme) (read on 2026-09-27)
- DGT — List of CTS courses (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Education and Training
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
- Physics
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
What you'd actually do
- Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
- Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
- Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
- Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
- Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
- Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Foundry mold and coremakers do?
Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
How much does Foundry mold and coremakers earn?
The median annual salary for Foundry mold and coremakers in the US is $45,700.
What is the job outlook for Foundry mold and coremakers?
The role is projected to decline by 26% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 12,700 workers.
How do I become foundry mold and coremakers?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Foundry mold and coremakers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Active Listening, Operation and Control. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Foundry mold and coremakers?
Our AI-durability model gives Foundry mold and coremakers a score of 0.52 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Foundry mold and coremakers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.