Career Paths From Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticLateral Move87.5% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 10% higher.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$63,870
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Tool and Die MakersLateral Move84.3% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Tool and Die Makers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (84% match). Tool and Die Makers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 10% higher.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$64,050
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Etchers and EngraversLateral Move83.9% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Etchers and Engravers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (84% match). Etchers and Engravers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 25% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$43,310
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Model Makers, WoodLateral Move87.3% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Model Makers, Wood share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Model Makers, Wood sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$56,550
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move82.9% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (83% match). Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 20% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$46,330
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move83% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (83% match). Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 19% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$47,180
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersLateral Move89.6% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 17% higher.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$68,120
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move83.7% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (84% match). Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 9% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$52,800
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansCareer Change87.2% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 28% higher.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$74,510
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move87.9% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3).
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$58,040
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Semiconductor Processing TechniciansLateral Move87% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Semiconductor Processing Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Semiconductor Processing Technicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$51,430
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Nuclear TechniciansCareer Change89.5% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Nuclear Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Nuclear Technicians is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 90% higher.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$110,240
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersLateral Move83.7% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (84% match). Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 16% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$48,570
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsLateral Move85.9% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (86% match). Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 13% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$50,690
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Ophthalmic Laboratory TechniciansLateral Move84.1% skill match
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (84% match). Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 32% lower.
Current median salary
$58,000
Target median salary
$39,460
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.