How to hire a molding technician

How to hire a molding technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step molding technician hiring guide:

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

What does a molding technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the molding technician you need to hire. Certain molding technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A molding technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, molding technicians 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of molding technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Molding Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Molding Technician	Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.	$15-24
   Die Setter	In manufacturing facilities, a die setter is primarily in charge of setting up machines and equipment, selecting and utilizing various tools, preparing molds, gathering measurements and analyzing data, keeping records, monitoring the operations of machinery, and processing products according to protocols. They may also conduct regular maintenance checks, troubleshoot errors, perform basic repairs or adjustments, and produce regular reports for managers... Show more	$13-22
   Mold Setter	A mold setter positions molds used to cast products from a variety of materials such as plastic, metals, lead and composites. In this position, they are responsible for controlling the flow of materials into a machine, monitoring the process to prevent issues, and interpreting blueprints to ensure machinery is set accordingly... Show more	$12-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Hand Tools
   • Auxiliary Equipment
   • Math
   • Quality Checks
   • Basic Math
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Grinders
   • Quality Standards
   • PET
   • Work Ethic
   • GMP
   • Mold Changes
   • SPC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage utilization of LOTO procedures, GMP standards and OSHA safety standards.
   • Operate overhead cranes and forklifts and perform die-setter duties.
   • Operate and set-up CNC mills to make tire molds.
   • Work within the parameters of QS-9000 , 9001 and ISO 14000 certification requirements.
   • Track and maintain various SPC and quality control documentation to adhere to FDA requirements.
   • Use of milling machines, lathes, drill presses, sanders, grinders and polishers.

   More molding technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your molding technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A molding technician 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 molding technician in South Dakota may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level molding technician usually earns less than a senior-level molding technician. Additionally, a molding technician 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 molding technician salary

   $40,696yearly

   $19.57 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level molding technician salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 29, 2026

   Average molding technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nebraska	$51,240	$25
   2	Utah	$44,583	$21
   3	Missouri	$44,312	$21
   4	Minnesota	$44,227	$21
   5	North Carolina	$43,527	$21
   6	California	$43,463	$21
   7	Texas	$43,021	$21
   8	Illinois	$42,363	$20
   9	Pennsylvania	$42,262	$20
   10	Iowa	$40,885	$20
   11	Colorado	$40,523	$19
   12	New York	$39,820	$19
   13	Maryland	$38,073	$18
   14	Kansas	$34,005	$16

   Average molding technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cummins	$50,742	$24.40
   2	BD	$49,161	$23.64	1
   3	Nordson	$48,198	$23.17	6
   4	Boston Medical Center	$48,122	$23.14
   5	GPAC	$46,801	$22.50
   6	Bosch USA	$44,854	$21.56
   7	Terumo Medical	$44,776	$21.53
   8	Sonoco	$44,619	$21.45	6
   9	Liquibox	$44,172	$21.24
   10	Revision	$44,020	$21.16
   11	PPG	$43,833	$21.07	1
   12	Lear	$43,826	$21.07	1
   13	Latham Pool	$43,756	$21.04	1
   14	CTG	$43,482	$20.90	1
   15	Saint-Gobain North America	$43,390	$20.86
   16	Koch Industries	$43,192	$20.77	3
   17	Novolex	$42,911	$20.63	15
   18	Mack Group	$42,698	$20.53	3
   19	P&G	$42,588	$20.48	5
   20	Flex-N-Gate	$42,547	$20.46	5

4. Writing a molding technician job description

   A molding technician 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. Below, you can find an example of a molding technician job description:

   Molding technician job description example

   + Review production orders scheduled to run on a daily and weekly schedule.
   
   + Color- make sure color feed does not run low, communicate with Quality Control especially when color running low.
   
   + Coordinates Molding Machine production; orders to be run on daily basis, according to production schedule and order specification.
   
   + Fills in orders and color running.
   
   + Cycle time- makes sure cycle time is recorded, and if any cycle time changes, makes sure is noted.
   
   + Shift change - must communicate with next shift any changes/concerns/problems.
   
   + Shift change walk through; check machine for excessive drywell/plastic build up, excess could damage wiring on machine.
   
   + Ensures all production is recorded properly.
   
   + Set & start up production jobs while using current process procedures and databases for documenting and troubleshooting.
   
   + Make necessary mold changes.
   
   + Evaluate molding processes to update and improve quality while maintaining safety & productivity.
   
   + Equipment problems, be able to repair the following; core top changes, Core pull switches and sensors, O-rings on tooling, mold tips, air valves on Husky for SSB, Fuses on mold temperature controllers, Hydraulic cylinders on molds, Hydraulic hoses from mold to machine inspection and replacement, water hoses from mold machine to inspection and replacement. If unable to repair must call for assistance from Production Supervisor/Maintenance Manager.
   
   + Line clearances before and after change overs to be completed in accordance to company process.
   
   + Housekeeping; maintain work area cleanliness; example, caps, color, material.
   
   + End of shift- must ensure all paperwork is completed neat, accurate, and readable; shift end report for each machine, record all information, example; any problems/trouble shooting during shift, and corrective action.
   
   + Record any changes to machine to correct problem, such as flash/thread/ trap caps.
   
   + Perform preventative maintenance on molding machines & other equipment such as electric and hydraulic mold machines, hot runner tooling, and associated machinery as necessary.
   
   + Monitor Whiteboard Production collection of data.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right molding technician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with molding technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit molding technicians who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit molding technicians, 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 molding technician

   Once you've found the molding technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new molding technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 molding technician?