Prevailing Wage for Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Prevailing wage requirements for Foundry Mold and Coremakers (SOC 51-4071) apply to every H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship filing for this occupation. Whether the employer hires under the title Core Maker, Coremaker, or Core Machine Operator, DOL sets four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which U.S. city the worksite is located in.
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Level 1 covers entry-level mold and core workers with limited foundry experience, typically under two years. These workers perform routine tasks under close supervision and have not yet developed independent judgment on mold composition, core assembly tolerances, or curing processes.
Level 2 applies to qualified workers with hands-on experience across multiple mold or core types, working with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Foundry Mold and Coremakers, reflecting journeyman-range proficiency on standard production runs.
Level 3 covers experienced workers who handle complex mold geometries, troubleshoot core defects independently, and may guide less experienced crew members. These workers apply specialized knowledge of sand composition, binders, and pattern interpretation without routine supervisor oversight.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior workers or lead coremakers who set production standards, train others, and resolve casting-quality issues tied to mold and core variables. Employers filing at this level typically require broad foundry process expertise and demonstrated leadership on the floor.
Prevailing Wage for Foundry Mold and Coremakers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Confirm your worksite city before comparing offers
Prevailing wages for Coremakers vary substantially across metro areas. A position in St. Louis or Portland carries a noticeably higher floor than the same title in Erie or Greenville. Always verify which worksite address appears on the LCA, since that city controls the wage floor, not the employer's headquarters.
Watch for SOC misclassification on foundry postings
Some employers file Core Maker and Green Sand Molder roles under broader production or assembler SOC codes, which may carry a lower prevailing wage than SOC 51-4071. Confirm the SOC code on the employer's LCA disclosure before accepting an offer to ensure the correct floor applies.
Exclude shift differentials when checking the floor
Foundry schedules often include night-shift premiums and overtime pay that inflate stated annual compensation. DOL prevailing wage compliance is calculated on base wages only. Shift differentials, overtime, and attendance bonuses do not count toward meeting the prevailing wage floor for sponsored positions.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Foundry sponsorships are concentrated in a smaller set of manufacturers. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Foundry Mold and Coremakers, so you can focus your search on companies that have already navigated the LCA and visa process for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for Foundry Mold and CoremakersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4071.00 alongside Foundry Mold and Coremakers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Core Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Core Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Core Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Core Maker Prevailing Wage
Core Maker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Core Maker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Core Stripper Prevailing Wage
Core Stripper Prevailing Wage
Core Stripper is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Coremaker Prevailing Wage
Coremaker Prevailing Wage
Coremaker positions fall under SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Green Sand Molder Prevailing Wage
Green Sand Molder Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Green Sand Molder for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Mold Maker Prevailing Wage
Mold Maker Prevailing Wage
Mold Maker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Mold Operator Prevailing Wage
Mold Operator Prevailing Wage
Mold Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Molder Prevailing Wage
Molder Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Molder for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
No Bake Molder Prevailing Wage
No Bake Molder Prevailing Wage
No Bake Molder is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Sand Molder Prevailing Wage
Sand Molder Prevailing Wage
Sand Molder positions fall under SOC 51-4071.00 (Foundry Mold and Coremakers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Foundry Mold and Coremakers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for Foundry Mold and Coremakers using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metro areas. For each area, DOL divides the wage distribution into four levels tied to experience and job complexity. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my job offer?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry workers under close supervision, Level 2 to qualified workers on routine production tasks, Level 3 to experienced workers handling complex molds or cores independently, and Level 4 to fully competent senior or lead coremakers. The level on your LCA should reflect your actual duties and supervision scope. If the level seems lower than your experience warrants, that gap can affect your negotiating position and long-term wage compliance.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Coremaker title differ so much from city to city?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. A metro with a dense concentration of foundry manufacturers and competing employers drives wages higher than a market with fewer employers and less competition for skilled coremakers. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the wage floor is determined by where the work is performed, not where the company is headquartered.
What happens if an employer's offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Foundry Mold and Coremakers position?
An LCA cannot be certified by DOL if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition lacking a certified LCA. For PERM-based green card cases, OFLC similarly requires the offered wage to meet the prevailing wage determination. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must raise it before filing or the sponsorship process cannot proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Foundry Mold and Coremakers at a specific U.S. location?
You can look up the current figure directly through the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you select SOC 51-4071 and a specific metro area to retrieve the four-level wage table. You can also review O*NET for occupation context and check recent LCA disclosure data that OFLC publishes quarterly. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored this role in specific regions so you can cross-reference postings against the local wage floor.
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