Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

Median salary

$63,340

Average salary

$68,570

Employment

2,610

Projected growth

18.2% decline

Annual openings

300

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

What Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Do

Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Includes template makers.

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 3 of 5

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

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

Mechanicalimportance 4.3/5
Mathematicsimportance 4.0/5
Production and Processingimportance 3.9/5
Designimportance 3.9/5
Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.8/5
Computers and Electronicsimportance 2.9/5
Sales and Marketingimportance 2.7/5
Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 2.6/5

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 Accurate4.8/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.6/5
Spend Time Standing4.6/5
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.5/5
Time Pressure4.2/5

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.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing88% skill match
Tool and Die Makers88% skill match
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters86% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators82% skill match
Semiconductor Processing Technicians82% skill match
Wellhead Pumpers81% skill match
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood80% skill match
Patternmakers, Wood80% skill match

Transferable Skills

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

Operation and Controlimportance 3.6/5
Operations Monitoringimportance 3.5/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.3/5
Equipment Selectionimportance 3.0/5
Troubleshootingimportance 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.0/5
Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
Repairingimportance 2.9/5

Software & Technologies

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

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

CNC Software Mastercam
PTC Creo Parametric

Work Style

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

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cautiousness
Achievement Orientation
Perseverance
Intellectual Curiosity
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
InvestigativeLow
ArtisticLow
SocialLow
EnterprisingLow

Specific Interests

A more detailed breakdown of this occupation’s interest profile, per O*NET.

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 model makers, metal and plastic make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).