Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4061) earn a median $63,340 a year ($30.45 an hour) in the United States, with 2,610 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What model makers, metal and plastic do
Metal and plastic model makers build working models, prototypes, and templates of metal or plastic objects. The model maker studies blueprints, drawings, or sketches and works out the dimensions, equipment, and sequence needed. Machines such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, drill presses, bandsaws, and jig borers do much of the cutting, and CNC machines are programmed for some parts, while hand tools such as files and mallets, along with power brakes and shears, shape and finish sheet material. The finished model is inspected with precision instruments, and the maker reworks or alters pieces when the design changes or standards are not met. Because each piece is a model or prototype, the work covers a wide range of machines and operations. Template makers are included in the occupation.
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 Mockup Builder, Appliances Sample Maker, Auto Manufacturing Model Maker (Automotive Manufacturing Model Maker), Clock and Watch Model Maker, CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.12 | $22.77 | $30.45 | $41.70 | $47.60 | $32.97 | 2,610 |
| Annual | $39,760 | $47,360 | $63,340 | $86,740 | $99,010 | $68,570 | ||
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 model makers, 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 | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $28.75 | $35.35 | $44.69 | $51.44 | $73.86 | $46.65 | 260 | 0.01 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $59,800 | $73,530 | $92,960 | $107,000 | $153,640 | $97,030 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.58 | $30.16 | $38.43 | $43.30 | $51.44 | $36.59 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.31 |
| Annual | $38,640 | $62,730 | $79,930 | $90,070 | $106,990 | $76,110 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.82 | $34.68 | $37.36 | $43.65 | $51.50 | $39.64 | 120 | 0.01 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $62,030 | $72,130 | $77,710 | $90,800 | $107,120 | $82,450 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $20.19 | $21.39 | $34.78 | $42.95 | $42.95 | $33.10 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $41,990 | $44,500 | $72,340 | $89,330 | $89,330 | $68,850 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $20.65 | $21.91 | $33.12 | $33.12 | $33.13 | $28.97 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $42,960 | $45,560 | $68,890 | $68,890 | $68,900 | $60,260 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $18.30 | $20.79 | $29.11 | $46.99 | $47.60 | $32.10 | 710 | 0.16 | 9.64 |
| Annual | $38,060 | $43,250 | $60,540 | $97,740 | $99,010 | $66,770 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.75 | $35.35 | $44.69 | $51.44 | $73.86 | $46.65 | 260 | 0.01 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $59,800 | $73,530 | $92,960 | $107,000 | $153,640 | $97,030 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.57 | $22.72 | $31.69 | $47.22 | $49.51 | $35.79 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $38,630 | $47,260 | $65,920 | $98,220 | $102,990 | $74,440 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.82 | $34.68 | $37.36 | $43.65 | $51.50 | $39.64 | 120 | 0.01 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $62,030 | $72,130 | $77,710 | $90,800 | $107,120 | $82,450 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $25.00 | $28.56 | $32.61 | $45.56 | $50.81 | $36.13 | 100 | 0.03 | 1.62 |
| Annual | $52,000 | $59,410 | $67,830 | $94,770 | $105,680 | $75,160 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.73 | $33.45 | $45.65 | $59.43 | $76.22 | $47.30 | 120 | 0.02 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $59,760 | $69,570 | $94,950 | $123,620 | $158,540 | $98,390 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $19.19 | $23.25 | $43.25 | $51.87 | $62.67 | $40.57 | 70 | 0.02 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $39,920 | $48,350 | $89,960 | $107,890 | $130,360 | $84,380 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $28.33 | $40.76 | $40.76 | $50.15 | $54.38 | $44.19 | 40 | 0.02 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $58,920 | $84,780 | $84,780 | $104,300 | $113,100 | $91,910 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $19.25 | $25.23 | $39.00 | $46.99 | $47.60 | $35.65 | 490 | 0.26 | 15.17 |
| Annual | $40,040 | $52,480 | $81,110 | $97,740 | $99,010 | $74,150 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.85 | $34.35 | $37.36 | $46.68 | $51.97 | $38.42 | 80 | 0.01 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $43,370 | $71,460 | $77,710 | $97,090 | $108,100 | $79,910 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $19.25 | $25.23 | $39.00 | $46.99 | $47.60 | $35.65 | 490 | 0.26 | 15.17 |
| Annual | $40,040 | $52,480 | $81,110 | $97,740 | $99,010 | $74,150 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.73 | $33.45 | $45.65 | $59.43 | $76.22 | $47.30 | 120 | 0.02 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $59,760 | $69,570 | $94,950 | $123,620 | $158,540 | $98,390 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.85 | $34.35 | $37.36 | $46.68 | $51.97 | $38.42 | 80 | 0.01 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $43,370 | $71,460 | $77,710 | $97,090 | $108,100 | $79,910 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $19.19 | $23.25 | $43.25 | $51.87 | $62.67 | $40.57 | 70 | 0.02 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $39,920 | $48,350 | $89,960 | $107,890 | $130,360 | $84,380 | ||||
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | Hourly | $18.58 | $18.58 | $21.26 | $25.09 | $36.67 | $23.74 | 70 | 0.11 | 6.70 |
| Annual | $38,640 | $38,640 | $44,220 | $52,180 | $76,270 | $49,390 | ||||
Top industries employing model makers, metal and plastic
Plastics Product Manufacturing employ 18.0% of model makers, metal and plastic nationally (470 jobs) at a median $47,510 a year ($22.84 an hour), followed by Specialized Design Services (10.3%) and Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (10.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastics Product Manufacturing NAICS 326100 | 470 | 18.0% | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| Specialized Design Services NAICS 541400 | 270 | 10.3% | $60,540 | $29.11 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 260 | 10.0% | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 541900 | 220 | 8.4% | $45,250 | $21.76 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing NAICS 339900 | 130 | 5.0% | $71,450 | $34.35 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,610). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $55,630 for model makers, metal and plastic in May 2021 and $63,340 in May 2025, with employment of 3,690 and 2,610.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $55,630 | $26.75 | 3,690 |
| May 2022 | $57,620 | $27.70 | 3,350 |
| May 2023 | $64,190 | $30.86 | 2,840 |
| May 2024 | $62,700 | $30.14 | 3,230 |
| May 2025 | $63,340 | $30.45 | 2,610 |
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
15 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 | California profile | $44.69 | $92,960 | $59,800 | $153,640 | 260 | 0.01 | 0.85 |
| 2 | Florida profile | $38.43 | $79,930 | $38,640 | $106,990 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.31 |
| 3 | New York profile | $37.36 | $77,710 | $62,030 | $107,120 | 120 | 0.01 | 0.71 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $34.78 | $72,340 | $41,990 | $89,330 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.96 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $33.12 | $68,890 | $42,960 | $68,900 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $32.61 | $67,830 | $52,000 | $105,680 | 100 | 0.03 | 1.62 |
| 7 | Texas profile | $31.69 | $65,920 | $38,630 | $102,990 | 230 | 0.02 | 0.98 |
| 8 | Indiana profile | $30.11 | $62,620 | $34,910 | $73,340 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.97 |
| 9 | Iowa profile | $29.59 | $61,550 | $51,030 | $78,480 | 40 | 0.03 | 1.71 |
| 10 | Ohio profile | $29.27 | $60,880 | $46,770 | $76,080 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.66 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $29.11 | $60,540 | $38,060 | $99,010 | 710 | 0.16 | 9.64 |
| 12 | Rhode Island profile | $26.71 | $55,560 | $34,440 | $78,890 | 40 | 0.09 | 5.13 |
| 13 | Utah profile | $25.79 | $53,650 | $39,760 | $94,360 | 60 | 0.04 | 2.12 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania profile | $25.48 | $52,990 | $37,670 | $112,030 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.38 |
| 15 | North Carolina profile | $22.00 | $45,760 | $39,710 | $60,630 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-4060), 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 51-4061 Model Makers, 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 51-4061, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4061.00, 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.