Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4192) earn a median $63,870 a year ($30.71 an hour) in the United States, with 5,970 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What layout workers, metal and plastic do
Layout workers mark reference points, lines, and dimensions on metal or plastic stock so that other workers know where to cut, drill, bend, or weld. They handle sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, and machine parts, and the occupation explicitly includes shipfitters. From blueprints and templates, a layout worker works out the geometry, using trigonometry and knowledge of how heat and forming change metal, and sets the order in which cutting, punching, rolling, and welding should happen. Scribes, soapstone, punches, compasses, dividers, and height gauges are the typical tools, and center lines and template positions are checked with gauge blocks and dial indicators. Layout workers also fit and align fabricated parts ahead of welding or assembly and may lay out and build structural pieces themselves, such as plates, bulkheads, and frames. Accuracy at this stage determines whether later work fits.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Aircraft Lay Out Worker, Bellmaker, Development Mechanic, Dimensional Inspector, Duplicator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.22 | $24.48 | $30.71 | $38.21 | $45.12 | $31.98 | 5,970 |
| Annual | $39,980 | $50,910 | $63,870 | $79,470 | $93,860 | $66,520 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where layout workers, metal and plastic earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $34.25 | $39.00 | $42.10 | $43.67 | $48.05 | $41.41 | 140 | 0.22 | 5.81 |
| Annual | $71,240 | $81,120 | $87,570 | $90,830 | $99,940 | $86,130 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $27.77 | $30.54 | $41.01 | $45.94 | $50.53 | $39.63 | 500 | 0.14 | 3.64 |
| Annual | $57,760 | $63,520 | $85,300 | $95,560 | $105,100 | $82,430 | ||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $21.43 | $30.01 | $38.09 | $38.21 | $46.30 | $36.06 | 610 | 0.43 | 11.11 |
| Annual | $44,560 | $62,410 | $79,240 | $79,470 | $96,310 | $75,010 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $30.50 | $30.71 | $36.07 | $41.02 | $42.01 | $37.05 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $63,440 | $63,880 | $75,020 | $85,310 | $87,370 | $77,060 | ||||
| Maine | Hourly | $26.05 | $30.01 | $35.83 | $39.42 | $42.45 | $34.60 | 180 | 0.28 | 7.32 |
| Annual | $54,180 | $62,420 | $74,530 | $81,990 | $88,300 | $71,960 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $21.36 | $26.43 | $33.78 | $45.00 | $47.78 | $34.40 | 1,080 | 0.26 | 6.83 |
| Annual | $44,430 | $54,970 | $70,260 | $93,600 | $99,380 | $71,560 | ||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $21.43 | $30.01 | $38.09 | $38.21 | $46.30 | $36.06 | 610 | 0.43 | 11.11 |
| Annual | $44,560 | $62,410 | $79,240 | $79,470 | $96,310 | $75,010 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $27.77 | $30.54 | $41.01 | $45.94 | $50.53 | $39.63 | 500 | 0.14 | 3.64 |
| Annual | $57,760 | $63,520 | $85,300 | $95,560 | $105,100 | $82,430 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.74 | $29.94 | $35.81 | $42.00 | $42.00 | $35.59 | 480 | 0.03 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $59,770 | $62,280 | $74,490 | $87,360 | $87,360 | $74,020 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $19.39 | $24.48 | $27.97 | $32.49 | $38.59 | $29.00 | 200 | 0.02 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $40,340 | $50,910 | $58,170 | $67,580 | $80,260 | $60,330 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $43.07 | $56.92 | $59.17 | $60.96 | $60.96 | $55.63 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $89,590 | $118,390 | $123,080 | $126,790 | $126,790 | $115,700 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $34.25 | $39.00 | $42.10 | $43.67 | $48.05 | $41.41 | 140 | 0.31 | 8.17 |
| Annual | $71,240 | $81,120 | $87,570 | $90,830 | $99,940 | $86,130 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $27.77 | $30.11 | $38.41 | $45.12 | $46.92 | $37.93 | 440 | 4.72 | 122.94 |
| Annual | $57,760 | $62,630 | $79,890 | $93,850 | $97,590 | $78,890 | ||||
| Wichita, KS | Hourly | $21.98 | $30.01 | $38.09 | $38.21 | $46.30 | $36.66 | 590 | 1.91 | 49.68 |
| Annual | $45,720 | $62,410 | $79,240 | $79,470 | $96,310 | $76,240 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $30.50 | $36.06 | $36.07 | $41.02 | $54.69 | $38.47 | 70 | 0.06 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $63,440 | $75,010 | $75,020 | $85,310 | $113,750 | $80,010 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | Hourly | $21.47 | $27.97 | $32.47 | $36.80 | $45.12 | $32.58 | 770 | 1.02 | 26.46 |
| Annual | $44,650 | $58,170 | $67,540 | $76,540 | $93,850 | $67,770 | ||||
| Wichita, KS | Hourly | $21.98 | $30.01 | $38.09 | $38.21 | $46.30 | $36.66 | 590 | 1.91 | 49.68 |
| Annual | $45,720 | $62,410 | $79,240 | $79,470 | $96,310 | $76,240 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $27.77 | $30.11 | $38.41 | $45.12 | $46.92 | $37.93 | 440 | 4.72 | 122.94 |
| Annual | $57,760 | $62,630 | $79,890 | $93,850 | $97,590 | $78,890 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $28.74 | $29.35 | $35.81 | $42.00 | $42.00 | $35.84 | 250 | 0.16 | 4.26 |
| Annual | $59,770 | $61,040 | $74,490 | $87,360 | $87,360 | $74,540 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $34.25 | $39.00 | $42.10 | $43.67 | $48.05 | $41.41 | 140 | 0.31 | 8.17 |
| Annual | $71,240 | $81,120 | $87,570 | $90,830 | $99,940 | $86,130 | ||||
Top industries employing layout workers, metal and plastic
Ship and Boat Building employ 32.7% of layout workers, metal and plastic nationally (1,950 jobs) at a median $63,070 a year ($30.32 an hour), followed by Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (16.9%) and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (11.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship and Boat Building NAICS 336600 | 1,950 | 32.7% | $63,070 | $30.32 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 1,010 | 16.9% | $76,540 | $36.80 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 700 | 11.7% | $79,240 | $38.09 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 700 | 11.7% | $63,940 | $30.74 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) NAICS 3320A2 | 280 | 4.7% | $59,240 | $28.48 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (5,970). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $51,690 for layout workers, metal and plastic in May 2021 and $63,870 in May 2025, with employment of 6,840 and 5,970.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $51,690 | $24.85 | 6,840 |
| May 2022 | $58,260 | $28.01 | 6,890 |
| May 2023 | $62,270 | $29.94 | 6,660 |
| May 2024 | $61,870 | $29.74 | 5,610 |
| May 2025 | $63,870 | $30.71 | 5,970 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
19 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $42.10 | $87,570 | $71,240 | $99,940 | 140 | 0.22 | 5.81 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $41.01 | $85,300 | $57,760 | $105,100 | 500 | 0.14 | 3.64 |
| 3 | Kansas profile | $38.09 | $79,240 | $44,560 | $96,310 | 610 | 0.43 | 11.11 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $36.07 | $75,020 | $63,440 | $87,370 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Maine profile | $35.83 | $74,530 | $54,180 | $88,300 | 180 | 0.28 | 7.32 |
| 6 | California profile | $35.81 | $74,490 | $59,770 | $87,360 | 480 | 0.03 | 0.68 |
| 7 | Virginia profile | $33.78 | $70,260 | $44,430 | $99,380 | 1,080 | 0.26 | 6.83 |
| 8 | Massachusetts profile | $30.71 | $63,880 | $40,000 | $84,190 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.67 |
| 9 | New York profile | $30.15 | $62,700 | $49,470 | $77,470 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.18 |
| 10 | Michigan profile | $29.59 | $61,550 | $39,670 | $79,040 | 160 | 0.04 | 0.97 |
| 11 | Wisconsin profile | $29.24 | $60,810 | $50,520 | $71,170 | 150 | 0.05 | 1.35 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.53 | $59,350 | $48,460 | $76,730 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.65 |
| 13 | Florida profile | $27.97 | $58,170 | $40,340 | $80,260 | 200 | 0.02 | 0.53 |
| 14 | Georgia profile | $25.29 | $52,600 | $43,620 | $68,320 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.44 |
| 15 | Texas profile | $23.18 | $48,220 | $34,410 | $66,250 | 190 | 0.01 | 0.35 |
| 16 | Tennessee profile | $20.79 | $43,250 | $40,660 | $80,570 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.29 |
| 17 | South Carolina profile | $20.02 | $41,650 | $30,070 | $64,200 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.45 |
| 18 | New Mexico profile | $18.54 | $38,560 | $35,470 | $44,850 | 60 | 0.07 | 1.82 |
| 19 | Alabama profile | $18.07 | $37,590 | $29,100 | $60,930 | 190 | 0.09 | 2.34 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-4190), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-4192 Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-4192, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4192.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.