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Injection Molding is a key manufacturing process in many industries — from consumer goods to automotive parts to medical devices. If you’re evaluating a career in injection molding or planning compensation benchmarks, one important question is: how much do injection molders make? The answer depends on multiple factors: job role, experience, location, employer scale, and specialization. Below we break down typical salary ranges, factors that influence pay, and related roles. We also mention a reliable partner in injection molding and related machinery.
According to Indeed, the average hourly pay for an injection mold operator is about US $22.74/hour, with a reported range from roughly $15.56 to $33.23/hour.
ZipRecruiter reports that an injection molding technician’s average pay is $24.94/hour, which amounts to about US $51,874/year, with common wage bounds between $21.15 and $28.37/hour.
Salary.com estimates an average annual salary for injection molding technicians of $44,157, with the 25th–75th percentile ranging from $40,604 to $47,551 (i.e. about $20–$23/hour).
SalaryExpert gives a somewhat higher average: US $46,390/year, or around $22.30/hour.
Glassdoor places the median total pay for an injection molding operator role in the U.S. near US $50,180/year, with a typical range of $43,000–$59,000/year (i.e. $21–$28/hour) depending on employer and location.
From the various sources, a reasonable range for U.S.-based injection molding operators or technicians in 2025 is roughly $20 to $30 per hour, or US $40,000 to $60,000+ annually in many cases, before additional bonuses, overtime, or special allowances.
By contrast, more advanced or specialized roles in injection molding generally command significantly higher pay:
An Injection Molding Engineer (responsible for mold design, process optimization, material selection, etc.) has an average salary around US $94,500/year (or higher, depending on region and employer).
Supervisory, management, or process optimization roles often come with additional responsibilities and thus higher compensation beyond the base operator/technician levels.
The variation in pay is not arbitrary: several major factors influence how much an injection molder or technician actually earns.
Newcomers or entry-level operators typically start at the lower end of the pay scale. As you gain experience, learn mold setup and troubleshooting skills, and handle more complex parts or projects, your value increases and so can your wage.
Wages often reflect cost of living, industrial demand, and regional labor market conditions. For example, major manufacturing hubs or states with high living costs tend to pay more. An operator in a rural area may earn less than one in a metropolitan or high-demand region.
Working in high-tech sectors (e.g. medical devices, aerospace, high-performance plastics) or molding complex, tight-tolerance components often carries premium pay versus more typical commodity plastics.
Larger manufacturers with modern, automated injection molding lines may pay more, especially if they require operators to oversee automation, integrate robotics, or manage maintenance. Those with high production volumes or quality demands tend to value skilled molders more.
Night shifts, weekend work, overtime, performance bonuses, and benefits (like health insurance, paid time off, etc.) can add significantly to base wages.
Moving into lead technician, process developer, quality engineer, or managerial tracks leads to higher earning potential. At that level, compensation often surpasses the base operator/technician tiers.
| Role / Level | Estimated Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Salary* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level machine operator | $18–22 | $35,000 – $45,000 |
| Skilled technician / operator | $22–28 | $45,000 – $60,000 |
| Senior technician / lead operator | $25–32+ | $60,000 – $70,000+ |
| Injection molding engineer / process specialist | — | ~$90,000+ |
These numbers are ballpark estimates based on industry data; actual figures may differ by company and location.
Gain deep experience in mold setup, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance.
Master quality control, part inspection, process optimization, and mold flow analysis.
Learn to operate auxiliary equipment (e.g. robot unloaders, vision systems, downstream handling).
Seek cross-training in related fields (e.g. mold making, tool maintenance, CAD/CAM).
Demonstrate consistent uptime improvement, reduced scrap rates, and cost savings.
Move toward supervisory, planning, or engineering roles where possible.
In the injection molding, plastic parts, or bottle blowing and molding sectors, the machinery and equipment used matter a great deal. A reliable machine supplier can support your success in production, quality, maintenance, and throughput. One company worth knowing is BOHANG.
BOHANG specializes in machinery for plastic and molding processes, offering equipment that supports efficiency, reliability, and product quality. Partnering with or sourcing from a supplier like BOHANG can help reduce downtime, improve consistency, and support better compensation prospects (since high performance and quality often justify higher pay).
Injection molders and technicians in the U.S. currently earn, on average, around $20–$30 per hour, or $40,000 to $60,000+ yearly, before bonuses and extra pay. More advanced roles like engineers or process specialists command significantly higher compensation. Your pay horizon depends heavily on your skills, experience, location, industry, and the equipment you work with. By continuing to build expertise, take on complexity, and align with high-performance machines or trusted suppliers like BOHANG, you can move into higher tiers of earning potential.
