Occupations/51-4071.00

Foundry Mold and Coremakers

Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.

High school

Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.

AI automation risk

65%

Higher automation risk

Human characteristics

22%

Fewer uniquely human demands

Task orientation

60%

Mixed exposure

A day in this job

Mostly routine
Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
Mostly routine
Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
Task
Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.

The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.

Core tasks

01Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
02Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
03Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
04Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
05Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
06Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.

Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)

Repeating same tasks2.96
Degree of automation2.24
Time sitting1.25
Originality (ability)2.00
Conflict situations2.32
Hands-on objects/tools4.25
Outdoors / weather2.51
Disease exposure1.00
Decision freedom3.99

Top abilities

Trunk Strength3.75
Manual Dexterity3.62
Static Strength3.50
Arm-Hand Steadiness3.50
Finger Dexterity3.38
Near Vision3.25
Multilimb Coordination3.25
Reaction Time3.12

Essential skills

Reading Comprehension2.25
Active Listening2.88
Writing2.00
Speaking2.62
Mathematics2.00
Science1.25
Critical Thinking2.88
Active Learning2.38
Learning Strategies2.00
Monitoring3.00

CIP matches

48.0509Ironworking/Ironworker

Schools offering related programs

11 shown

Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.

Institution	Program	Tuition	Admit	Grad 6-yr	Earnings
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$5,900	100%	28%	1 yr $54,035 2 yr $55,512 Associate · CIP 48.05
Saint Paul College St. Paul, MN · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$6,100	100%	29%	1 yr $40,551 2 yr $42,363 Certificate · CIP 48.05
Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$9,800	71%	61%	1 yr $38,289 2 yr $34,704 Certificate · CIP 48.05
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$6,000	100%	31%	1 yr $35,594 2 yr $34,704 Certificate · CIP 48.05
University of Minnesota-Rochester Rochester, MN · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$14,200	72%	73%	1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 48.05
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$5,800	100%	33%	1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 48.05
Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$6,200	100%	38%	1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$2,900	100%	41%	1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 48.05
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$5,700	100%	35%	1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 48.05
Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$6,300	100%	48%	1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported
Macomb Community College Warren, MI · Public	Ironworking/Ironworker 48.0509	$4,200	100%	22%	1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported