Be Seen First
Assemblers & Machine Operators
Dublin, OH · On-site
$16 - $18/hr
12 of the Highest Paying Injection Molding Operator Jobs in 2026
The best Injection Molding Operator jobs can pay up to $89,000 per year.
The job duties of an injection molding operator include working to set up and operate machines that shape plastic or other materials through a process called injection molding. Your responsibilities usually involve working in a manufacturing setting and preparing your machine for each production run. You set your equipment based on blueprints or design directions. You usually monitor production to ensure quality during the process, and may also clean and perform maintenance on your equipment.
The qualifications you need to work as an injection molding operator include a high school diploma and job experience or a technical or vocational degree. Most employers expect one to three years of experience before you can operate an injection molding machine without oversight. Some employers or trade unions may offer apprenticeship opportunities where high school graduates can learn to manage the machinery while also receiving a salary. You may also learn skills by working as an entry-level assistant to an experienced injection molding operator.
High Paying Injection Molding Operator Jobs
Molding Manager
Salary range: $54,000 - $89,000
As a molding manager, your responsibilities include overseeing mold tooling operations in a factory or similar facility to ensure that daily schedule, production, and quality goals are met. You troubleshoot problems as needed and provide technical leadership to your department, offering recommendations on process and material enhancements. You also prepare mold tooling for new programs, create quotes, and manage existing production molds. Other duties include supervising tooling design activities and working closely with the manufacturing and quality control departments on existing tooling to improve the process, parts quality, and efficiency. You may also track efficiency, quality, scraps, and rework to ensure you provide clients with improved products.
Molding Engineer
Salary range: $70,500 - $87,500
The majority of Molding Engineer salaries across the United States currently range between $70,500 (25th percentile) and $87,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Molding Engineer job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Injection Molding Supervisor
Salary range: $51,500 - $63,500
The majority of Injection Molding Supervisor salaries across the United States currently range between $51,500 (25th percentile) and $63,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Injection Molding Supervisor job market in the United States is active, with some companies hiring.
Blow Mold Technician
Salary range: $40,000 - $60,000
A blow mold technician is responsible for the setup, safety, and basic maintenance of molds, machines, and production equipment as necessary. As a blow mold technician, you monitor the molding from start to finish, making corrections when necessary. These corrections may include welding and finishing the product to meet company standards. You also take care of scrap pieces to keep your work environment clean and safe for the next project. Continuous monitoring of systems throughout the process is one of the main responsibilities of this role. Your other duties as a blow mold technician may include repairing defective components, keeping up molds, and performing equipment changeovers.
Injection Molding Process Technician
Salary range: $50,000 - $60,000
Injection molding process technicians oversee all aspect of an injection molding process, including the set-up, operation, maintenance, and repair of injection molding tools, equipment, and materials. Your main duties in this career are to prepare and produce injection-molded components to specification and ensure their quality. Your other responsibilities are to perform daily inspections and maintenance of the machinery and systems. When you discover issues in the production process or products that don’t meet specific standards, you try to troubleshoot the issues. If they persist, you communicate them with engineers and other QA technicians.
Injection Molding Technician
Salary range: $44,000 - $59,000
As an injection molding technician, your responsibilities include ensuring product quality and production flow is maintained while producing injection-molded plastic parts. You inspect each machine, troubleshoot issues, perform maintenance on the equipment, and make sure production orders are correct and up to customer specifications. You read blueprints, update processing parameters, audit products randomly during processing to verify standards are being kept, and perform moisture analysis on materials as needed. Some jobs require you to supervise machine operators, communicate with your supervisor each day to determine the daily priorities, and keep accurate time and production records. Other duties include helping with the setup of lines, machines, and equipment, as well as material and die changes.
Plastic Process Technician
Salary range: $40,500 - $57,000
The majority of Plastic Process Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $40,500 (25th percentile) and $57,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Plastic Process Technician job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Molding Technician
Salary range: $36,000 - $53,000
The majority of Molding Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $53,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Molding Technician job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Plastic Technician
Salary range: $34,000 - $49,000
The majority of Plastic Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $34,000 (25th percentile) and $49,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Plastic Technician job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Blow Mold Machine Operator
Salary range: $36,500 - $45,000
The responsibilities of a blow mold machine operator include setting up and operating blow molding equipment used to create hollow plastic products. In this career, you manage the production of one machine in most cases, adjust the controls, set the temperature, adjust the mandrel with the desired mold chamber, and allow the machine to create the product to the client’s specifications under a specific amount of heat and pressure. You use various hand tools, trim excess plastic material from products using knives or a bandsaw, and ensure product quality by inspecting and weighing finished pieces. Other duties include regrinding extra material and any parts that are not to spec, regrinding extra material for reuse, light assembly as needed, and packing boxes with finished pieces. Many employers also expect you to perform minor repairs on machinery.
Injection Operator
Salary range: $32,000 - $39,500
The majority of Injection Operator salaries across the United States currently range between $32,000 (25th percentile) and $39,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Injection Operator job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Molding Machine Operator
Salary range: $32,500 - $39,000
The majority of Molding Machine Operator salaries across the United States currently range between $32,500 (25th percentile) and $39,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Molding Machine Operator job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.