What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in the U.S. earn more than $46,170 a year — the middle 80% land between $35,850 and $61,530. About 33,190 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Plant and machine operators and assemblers earn about ₹17,329 a month on average — around ₹2.1 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$46,170typical pay / year
33,190people in this work
$61,530+top 10% earn
₹2.1 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Fixing3
Rotate glass during heating process
+Rotate the heated glass piece every two minutes while in the kiln to prevent sagging and uneven wall…
Rotate glass during heating process
+Rotate the heated glass piece every two minutes while in the kiln to prevent sagging and uneven wall thickness, watch the color shift and seams, and stop rotation if the glass softens excessively or a crack appears.
The tools that do the workInventory controljob descriptionsO*NET
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Determine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.
+List each product design and calculate sheets, rods, and cullet needed per unit for the next run, total…
Determine types and quantities of glass required to fabricate products.
+List each product design and calculate sheets, rods, and cullet needed per unit for the next run, total quantities for the order of 120 pieces, and mark critical sizes so purchasing can buy by Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOO*NET
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Inspect, weigh, and measure products for conformance
+Inspect the finished vessels from line B, record weight to the nearest gram and dimensions to the nearest…
Inspect, weigh, and measure products for conformance
+Inspect the finished vessels from line B, record weight to the nearest gram and dimensions to the nearest millimetre, flag any item outside tolerances and set those pieces aside for rework.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record1
Record manufacturing information such as quantities and sizes
+Enter today's run numbers: product code, quantity made, sheet sizes used and finished dimensions for 80 units…
Record manufacturing information such as quantities and sizes
+Enter today's run numbers: product code, quantity made, sheet sizes used and finished dimensions for 80 units into the production log so the foreman and inventory team have an accurate batch record.
The tools that do the workInventory controljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work16
Spray or swab molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.
+Coat the mould cavities with the specified light oil solution, working from the center outward with a clean…
Spray or swab molds with oil solutions to prevent adhesion of glass.
+Coat the mould cavities with the specified light oil solution, working from the center outward with a clean lint-free swab so every cavity is slick and free of pools before the next glass pour this afternoon.
The tools that do the workInventory controlO*NET
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Repair broken scrolls by replacing them with new sections of tubing.
+Remove the damaged scroll section, cut and fit a matching new tubing segment, silver-solder the joints, then…
Repair broken scrolls by replacing them with new sections of tubing.
+Remove the damaged scroll section, cut and fit a matching new tubing segment, silver-solder the joints, then test the assembly under working pressure so the repaired scroll holds without leak before it returns to the line.
The tools that do the workInventory controlO*NET
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Superimpose bent tubing on asbestos patterns to ensure accuracy.
+Lay the bent tubing onto the asbestos pattern, shim and clamp the bends to the pattern lines, then adjust…
Superimpose bent tubing on asbestos patterns to ensure accuracy.
+Lay the bent tubing onto the asbestos pattern, shim and clamp the bends to the pattern lines, then adjust each curve until the tubing matches the template within millimetre tolerances before locking it in place.
The tools that do the workInventory controlO*NET
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Cut lengths of tubing to specified sizes, using files or cutting wheels.
+Measure each required length from the drawing, mark on the tubing, then cut with the wheel and file the ends…
Cut lengths of tubing to specified sizes, using files or cutting wheels.
+Measure each required length from the drawing, mark on the tubing, then cut with the wheel and file the ends smooth so every piece meets the size and finish specifications before sending to assembly.
The tools that do the workInventory controlO*NET
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Place rubber hoses on ends of tubing and charge tubing with gas.
+Push rubber hoses onto both ends of each prepared tube, clamp them securely, then charge the tubing with the…
Place rubber hoses on ends of tubing and charge tubing with gas.
+Push rubber hoses onto both ends of each prepared tube, clamp them securely, then charge the tubing with the correct gas and leak-test every run so fittings hold and the line is ready for firing.
The tools that do the workInventory controlO*NET
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Operate production machinery
+Run the production line through its start-up checklist, set machine speeds to the scheduled run rates,…
Operate production machinery
+Run the production line through its start-up checklist, set machine speeds to the scheduled run rates, monitor the first ten pieces for defects, and log any adjustments so the shift hits today’s quota without scrap spikes.
The tools that do the workInventory controljob descriptions
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Test products for quality and performance
+Test the new tungsten lamps and three diffusion gels against the company spec sheet, log fail/pass with…
Test products for quality and performance
+Test the new tungsten lamps and three diffusion gels against the company spec sheet, log fail/pass with measured lux and color temp, note handling issues, and flag any units that must be returned to procurement by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workInventory controljob descriptions
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Monitor gauges and indicators during production
+Stand the run, watch rig and ballast gauges at set intervals, record any drift or overheating in the shift…
Monitor gauges and indicators during production
+Stand the run, watch rig and ballast gauges at set intervals, record any drift or overheating in the shift log, alert the line producer immediately if pressure or amp draw exceed safe limits.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Design laboratory glass
+Sketch a borosilicate condenser and two custom adapters to meet the chemist's flow and seal requirements,…
Design laboratory glass
+Sketch a borosilicate condenser and two custom adapters to meet the chemist's flow and seal requirements, dimension the joints, note tolerances for thermal stress, then send the drawings to fabrication with a one-week turnaround.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Repair laboratory glass
+Assess the cracked reaction flask, document fracture location and probable cause, outline steps for anneal…
Repair laboratory glass
+Assess the cracked reaction flask, document fracture location and probable cause, outline steps for anneal and splice repair, and schedule the repair slot with shop techs for tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workInventory controlESCO
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Study artworks
+Catalogue the fifteen reference paintings for the studio archive, photograph details that show glazing and…
Study artworks
+Catalogue the fifteen reference paintings for the studio archive, photograph details that show glazing and brushwork, write short notes on palette and technique, and add them to the portfolio index by close of day.
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Design objects to be crafted
+Draft three production-ready prototypes for a hand-held rig: full dimensions, materials list, and join…
Design objects to be crafted
+Draft three production-ready prototypes for a hand-held rig: full dimensions, materials list, and join methods, estimate build time and cost, then circulate the pack to the prop buyer and lead rigger by Wednesday.
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Manipulate glass
+Prepare and test the blown and fused glass samples for tonight's shoot rig, anneal the largest piece to…
Manipulate glass
+Prepare and test the blown and fused glass samples for tonight's shoot rig, anneal the largest piece to remove stress, label each finished piece with location and mount notes, and store them ready on the set cart by 6pm.
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Study artistic techniques
+Schedule two hours this Thursday to copy technique notes from the museum sketches, practise the layering and…
Study artistic techniques
+Schedule two hours this Thursday to copy technique notes from the museum sketches, practise the layering and flame control shown, photograph the step stages for reference, and email the short write-up to the workshop lead.
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Maintain an artistic portfolio
+Update my portfolio with five new studio shots: include three close details of surface texture, one process…
Maintain an artistic portfolio
+Update my portfolio with five new studio shots: include three close details of surface texture, one process sequence of the kiln run, and a short materials list; export the selection as web-optimized images and send the link to gallery contact Anna by Friday.
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Monitor art scene developments
+Collect and summarise this month's openings, residencies, and studio talks in a single weekly bulletin,…
Monitor art scene developments
+Collect and summarise this month's openings, residencies, and studio talks in a single weekly bulletin, highlight three artists working with glass, attach links and RSVP deadlines, and circulate it to the studio mailing list every Monday morning.
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses