Salary guide, May 2025
Mold Maker pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Tool and Die Makers in Raleigh-Cary, NC was $60,590 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $48,360 and $65,430.
The Raleigh-Cary, NC median is $3,460 below the national median of $64,050, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers
The Mold Maker title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
What should you know about raleigh-Cary, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,260 | $48,360 | $60,590 | $65,430 | $76,900 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.88 | $23.25 | $29.13 | $31.46 | $36.97 |
BLS estimated 110 workers employed in this occupation in Raleigh-Cary, NC. Location quotient: 0.41.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44,680 | $51,490 | $64,050 | $78,770 | $92,680 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21.48 | $24.75 | $30.79 | $37.87 | $44.56 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Mold Maker median is $60,590. The all-occupations median in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $51,990. Ratio: 1.17 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.41 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $48,900 | $60,170 | $66,530 |
| May 2025 | $48,360 | $60,590 | $65,430 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers, Raleigh-Cary, NC. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | $78,140 | $63,350 to $78,140 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $61,090 | $50,120 to $69,700 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Raleigh-Cary, NC market tracks Mold Makers within the Tool and Die Makers occupation, reporting a median annual wage of $60,590. This figure demonstrates a modest medianChange of 420 since May 2024. The middleBandWidth, representing the core of the market, is 17,070, extending from a P25 of $48,360 to a P75 of $65,430.
Manufacturing Headhunters analyzes these figures to guide hiring managers on standard base compensation for technical staff capable of maintaining hot runners and injection molds.
On a national level, the occupation reports a median of $64,050 with a middleBandWidth of 27,280. The Raleigh median of $60,590 currently trails the national standard. The area's locationQuotient of 0.41 indicates a relatively lower employment concentration for this role compared to the nation at large. National industry benchmarks like Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing at $84,840 and Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing at $78,910 show the potential variance by sector, though these are national figures that do not reflect local Raleigh wage structures.
Local wage data from nearby areas provides additional benchmarking. The Burlington, NC area records a median of $78,140, while the Greensboro-High Point, NC area shows a median of $61,090, with a medianChange of -510 from the previous cycle. As the BLS records exclude common manufacturing incentives, hiring managers must consider that these medians represent foundational base salary. Success in filling these roles requires identifying candidates with specific competencies in EDM, polishing, and bench work, then aligning their total compensation packages with the local and sectoral reality rather than relying purely on the median wage of the broad Tool and Die Maker category.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Why is the Raleigh median wage lower than the national figure?
The Raleigh median of $60,590 sits below the national median of $64,050. This reflects a regional market that currently tracks under the broader U.S. average for this occupation.
What does the 17,070 middle-band width imply for local hiring?
The relatively narrow 17,070 middle-band width indicates that compensation for the middle 50% of the local workforce is tightly clustered. It suggests less extreme pay dispersion in Raleigh for this role compared to national trends.
Does the SOC 51-4111 code account for specific mold-making duties?
No, SOC 51-4111 is a general code for Tool and Die Makers. It does not distinguish between standard tool building and specialized injection mold maintenance or related technical processes.
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