Prevailing Wage for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Prevailing wage for injection molding machine operators is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level caster through fully competent mold mechanic, and the floor shifts significantly depending on where the worksite sits. Whether your offer covers a machine operator role or a specialized caster position, the required minimum varies by city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level injection molding machine operators with limited hands-on experience, typically under two years. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine and repetitive, and the role involves basic mold-loading or material-handling functions under direct instruction.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. Operators at this stage work independently on standard molding or casting tasks, have two or more years of experience, and need only occasional supervision for non-routine problems or equipment adjustments.
Level 3 applies to experienced molders and casters who handle complex setups, troubleshoot equipment independently, and may coordinate work across a shift. These professionals typically bring five or more years of occupation-specific experience and work with minimal oversight.
Level 4 covers fully competent lead operators or senior casters who set production standards, train others, and take responsibility for quality outcomes across an entire molding or casting line. This level reflects the top of the occupation's skill range.
Prevailing Wage for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic 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 whether piece-rate pay meets the floor
Some molder and caster positions are structured around piece-rate or production-bonus compensation. For LCA purposes, only base hourly wages count toward the prevailing wage floor. Verify your annualized base rate clears the required level before accepting an offer.
Watch for title mismatches with SOC codes
Job postings for casters or bed laborers sometimes get filed under broader production SOC codes, which can carry a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm your employer's LCA lists SOC 51-9195 and not a general assembler or manufacturing operator code.
Factor in the wage gap between California and Texas metros
Prevailing wage floors for injection molding machine operators in markets like Modesto and San Jose run significantly higher than in McAllen or Longview. If you're comparing offers across states, the L2 floor in a California market can be more than double that of a lower-cost Texas metro.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with molder hiring history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored workers in this occupation, so you can focus your search on companies that have filed LCAs for caster and molding roles before, rather than starting cold with employers unfamiliar with the process.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9195.00 alongside Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bed Laborer Prevailing Wage
Bed Laborer Prevailing Wage
Bed Laborer positions fall under SOC 51-9195.00 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic). 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.
Caster Prevailing Wage
Caster Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Caster for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9195.00 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Injection Molding Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Injection Molding Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Injection Molding Machine Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9195.00 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic). 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.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9195.00 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic). 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.
Mold Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Mold Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Mold Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9195.00 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Molder Prevailing Wage
Molder Prevailing Wage
Molder is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9195.00 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic). 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.
Molding Line Operator Prevailing Wage
Molding Line Operator Prevailing Wage
Molding Line Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9195.00 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic). 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.
Press Operator Prevailing Wage
Press Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Press Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9195.00 (Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for injection molding machine operators?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data, collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to calculate prevailing wages by occupation and geographic area. For injection molding machine operators under SOC 51-9195, OFLC publishes four wage levels annually. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect experience and responsibility. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is the standard independent operator; Level 3 covers experienced workers who troubleshoot and lead informally; Level 4 is senior or lead scope. Your level should match the duties described in the job offer and the LCA your employer files with OFLC, not just your personal experience.
Why does the required wage for this role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so the floor reflects actual local pay in each labor market. The LCA must list the specific worksite location, and the wage requirement applies to that location, not a national average. Markets with dense manufacturing employment and higher costs of living, such as California metros, consistently produce higher survey wages than rural or lower-cost regions.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot lawfully certify an LCA for a sponsored position that pays below the applicable prevailing wage. If the offered salary is too low, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and USCIS will not approve the petition. The employer must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or file under a different wage level that accurately reflects the role's duties.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a molder or caster role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current wage levels by SOC code 51-9195 and metropolitan area. Select the area that matches your actual worksite address, not your employer's headquarters. You can also cross-check the wage level cited on any public LCA disclosure through the OFLC disclosure database. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored this occupation historically so you can focus on companies already familiar with the filing requirements.
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