How to hire a mold setter

How to hire a mold setter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mold setter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mold setter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mold setter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a mold setter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a mold setter, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A mold setter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mold setters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents mold setter salaries for various positions.

   Type of Mold Setter	Description	Hourly rate
   Mold Setter	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$12-23
   Composite Technician	A composite technician specializes in producing and repairing composite materials, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities include coordinating with engineers and specialists, studying designs and diagrams, operating machines and equipment, and developing strategies to optimize workflow... Show more	$12-20
   Injection Molding Technician	Usually working at manufacturing facilities, an injection molding technician is in charge of setting up and designing molds and cores to ensure a smooth workflow and quality standard products. They perform installations and adjustments, troubleshoot problems, monitor systems and regulation parameters, and maintain an active communication line with co-workers... Show more	$17-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Mold Changes
   • Hydraulic Presses
   • PET
   • Production Schedules
   • Water Lines
   • Overhead Cranes
   • Mold Set-Up
   • Plastic Injection Molds
   • Mold Temperature
   • Production Floor
   • ISO
   • General Maintenance
   • Color Changes

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage utilization of LOTO procedures, GMP standards and OSHA safety standards.
   • Demonstrate efficient manual dexterity at a rapid and continuous rate.
   • Operate sidel machines, clean machines, inspect parts and simple maintenance to ensure machine run properly.

   More mold setter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mold setter job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A mold setter salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a mold setter in Florida may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level mold setter usually earns less than a senior-level mold setter. Additionally, a mold setter with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average mold setter salary

   $35,936yearly

   $17.28 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mold setter salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average mold setter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$42,203	$20
   2	Connecticut	$37,387	$18
   3	Utah	$36,417	$18
   4	Indiana	$34,463	$17
   5	Illinois	$34,242	$16
   6	Michigan	$33,166	$16
   7	Wisconsin	$33,099	$16
   8	Pennsylvania	$32,235	$16
   9	Kentucky	$32,030	$15
   10	North Dakota	$31,711	$15
   11	Ohio	$30,178	$15
   12	Iowa	$29,934	$14
   13	Maryland	$29,895	$14
   14	Tennessee	$26,447	$13

   Average mold setter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Silgan Holdings	$52,100	$25.05
   2	Pactiv	$51,047	$24.54	2
   3	GPAC	$48,083	$23.12
   4	General Technologies	$47,629	$22.90
   5	Berry Global	$46,128	$22.18
   6	Sonoco	$44,770	$21.52	2
   7	Nordson	$44,699	$21.49	2
   8	Vision Plastics	$44,024	$21.17	1
   9	Parkway Products	$43,658	$20.99	2
   10	Applied Medical Technology Inc.	$41,940	$20.16	5
   11	Silgan Containers	$41,467	$19.94	1
   12	Minnesota Rubber & Plastics	$40,760	$19.60
   13	Kelly Services	$38,794	$18.65	1
   14	Volt Information Sciences	$38,710	$18.61
   15	Hunter Douglas	$37,706	$18.13
   16	The Manufacturers' Association	$37,366	$17.96
   17	Hughes Supply	$37,347	$17.96
   18	Workbox Staffing	$36,773	$17.68	2
   19	Lacks Enterprises	$36,612	$17.60
   20	Aerotek	$36,560	$17.58	14

4. Writing a mold setter job description

   A mold setter job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a mold setter job description:

   Mold setter job description example

   1. Schedule daily mold changes to keep changeover downtime to a minimum.

   2. Complete scheduled mold changes alone or with the help of a Process Tech.

   3. Install and remove production tools in injection molding presses to include auxiliary equipment such as mold heaters, hydraulic slave units, robots, super chillers, and conveyors.

   4. Set control board to correct parameter settings for next production job.

   5. Start up and shut down presses when necessary.

   6. Perform minor repairs to equipment on an as needed basis

   7. Operates various equipment, including: forklift, hand truck, and hoist in order to move molds or equipment from one location to another.

   8. Work with hand tools.

   9. Complete all required paperwork: work orders, start-up check sheets, etc. Computer input required.

   10. Maintain a clean and orderly work area.

   11. Attend and satisfactorily complete various in-house classes.

   12. Communicate with other department personnel as necessary to coordinate and ensure accurate and timely job activities

   Company DescriptionTechniplas is a leading global design and manufacturing provider of engineered products and services that are helping to shape the future of mobility. Our 3,000 associates, around the world, are passionate about making the connected world. By continuously expanding the reach of our data enabled cognitive technologies into everything we do, we deliver personalized, performance-enhanced and sustainable mobility. For more information, please visit www.techniplas.com.
   
   Everything we do is based on the quality and dedication of the Techniplas team, and our team members are our biggest asset. We will continue to attract, retain, and energize the best and the brightest and invest in deepening their capabilities.
   
   Techniplas provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Techniplas complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find mold setters for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any mold setters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level mold setters with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mold setter job on Zippia to find and recruit mold setter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit mold setters, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mold setter

   Once you've selected the best mold setter candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new mold setter first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a mold setter?