Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

Median salary

$63,870

Average salary

$66,520

Employment

5,970

Projected growth

5.4% decline

Annual openings

500

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

What Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic Do

Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. Includes shipfitters.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: Not available

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 2 of 5

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Job training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Mathematicsimportance 4.1/5
Designimportance 3.8/5
Mechanicalimportance 3.5/5
Production and Processingimportance 3.4/5
Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.3/5
English Languageimportance 3.3/5
Building and Constructionimportance 3.3/5
Administration and Managementimportance 3.3/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0/5
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.7/5
Exposed to Contaminants4.7/5
Time Pressure4.6/5
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.6/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.6/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers94% skill match
Riggers93% skill match
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders93% skill match
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic92% skill match
Structural Iron and Steel Workers92% skill match
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers92% skill match
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic92% skill match
Model Makers, Wood91% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.0/5
Operations Monitoringimportance 3.0/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.0/5
Coordinationimportance 2.9/5
Operation and Controlimportance 2.9/5
Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.8/5
Equipment Selectionimportance 2.8/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Hexagon Metrology PC-DMIS
Inventory tracking software
Optical Gaging Products Measure-X

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cautiousness
Achievement Orientation
Perseverance
Integrity
Stress Tolerance

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
ArtisticLow
InvestigativeLow
SocialLow
EnterprisingLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where layout workers, metal and plastic make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).