Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4062) earn a median $58,000 a year ($27.89 an hour) in the United States, with 1,470 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Ohio.
What patternmakers, metal and plastic do
Metal and plastic patternmakers produce the patterns, core boxes, and match plates that foundries use to form molds for castings. The patternmaker reads blueprints or drawings of the parts to be cast, computes dimensions, and plans the sequence of operations. Milling machines, lathes, drill presses, and grinders cut the pattern sections, which are then fitted together with bolts, screws, rivets, glue, or welds. Calipers, scales, and micrometers verify dimensions against the drawing. Patternmakers also build the platforms, fixtures, and jigs that hold patterns in place, and they repair and rework patterns and templates, clean and finish them with files, scrapers, and power grinders, and mark identification numbers or symbols on them. Wood patternmakers use wood instead of metal and plastic and have a different SOC code.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, some college coursework without a degree is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Acoustical Tile Patternmaker, All-Around Patternmaker, Boilermaker Loftsman, Chart Writer, Computer Patternmaker.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $20.42 | $23.59 | $27.89 | $33.63 | $39.71 | $29.14 | 1,470 |
| Annual | $42,460 | $49,070 | $58,000 | $69,960 | $82,590 | $60,610 | ||
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 patternmakers, 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 | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $19.33 | $25.88 | $46.97 | $46.97 | $46.97 | $36.59 | 70 | 0.01 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $40,210 | $53,830 | $97,690 | $97,690 | $97,690 | $76,100 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $24.42 | $32.67 | $36.01 | $36.01 | $36.01 | $33.37 | 60 | 0.02 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $50,790 | $67,960 | $74,900 | $74,900 | $74,900 | $69,410 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $30.35 | $31.20 | $31.35 | $31.94 | $33.90 | $31.69 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $63,130 | $64,890 | $65,210 | $66,440 | $70,510 | $65,900 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $24.38 | $29.55 | $30.49 | $38.88 | $39.88 | $32.04 | 90 | 0.06 | 6.32 |
| Annual | $50,720 | $61,460 | $63,420 | $80,880 | $82,950 | $66,650 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $20.61 | $23.89 | $29.95 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $27.69 | 110 | 0.05 | 5.41 |
| Annual | $42,880 | $49,680 | $62,290 | $62,390 | $62,390 | $57,590 | ||||
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 | $16.43 | $20.82 | $25.86 | $29.01 | $46.22 | $27.87 | 250 | 0.06 | 5.94 |
| Annual | $34,180 | $43,300 | $53,780 | $60,340 | $96,140 | $57,970 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $23.01 | $23.59 | $25.07 | $34.86 | $36.47 | $28.20 | 230 | 0.08 | 8.42 |
| Annual | $47,850 | $49,070 | $52,150 | $72,510 | $75,850 | $58,660 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $21.74 | $23.27 | $26.03 | $29.47 | $36.22 | $28.07 | 160 | 0.03 | 2.85 |
| Annual | $45,220 | $48,400 | $54,150 | $61,290 | $75,330 | $58,390 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $20.61 | $23.89 | $29.95 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $27.69 | 110 | 0.05 | 5.41 |
| Annual | $42,880 | $49,680 | $62,290 | $62,390 | $62,390 | $57,590 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $24.38 | $29.55 | $30.49 | $38.88 | $39.88 | $32.04 | 90 | 0.06 | 6.32 |
| Annual | $50,720 | $61,460 | $63,420 | $80,880 | $82,950 | $66,650 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $24.42 | $31.09 | $36.01 | $36.01 | $36.01 | $33.68 | 50 | 0.03 | 2.76 |
| Annual | $50,790 | $64,670 | $74,900 | $74,900 | $74,900 | $70,040 | ||||
| Birmingham, AL | Hourly | $23.83 | $29.95 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $29.00 | 70 | 0.13 | 13.62 |
| Annual | $49,570 | $62,290 | $62,390 | $62,390 | $62,390 | $60,320 | ||||
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | Hourly | $23.14 | $23.70 | $26.43 | $29.47 | $29.47 | $27.08 | 40 | 0.11 | 11.73 |
| Annual | $48,140 | $49,300 | $54,980 | $61,290 | $61,290 | $56,320 | ||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $23.59 | $23.59 | $23.59 | $28.49 | $35.15 | $26.58 | 110 | 0.14 | 14.52 |
| Annual | $49,070 | $49,070 | $49,070 | $59,270 | $73,110 | $55,280 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $16.43 | $21.07 | $23.46 | $29.00 | $29.00 | $24.54 | 100 | 0.05 | 5.42 |
| Annual | $34,180 | $43,830 | $48,790 | $60,320 | $60,320 | $51,050 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $23.59 | $23.59 | $23.59 | $28.49 | $35.15 | $26.58 | 110 | 0.14 | 14.52 |
| Annual | $49,070 | $49,070 | $49,070 | $59,270 | $73,110 | $55,280 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $16.43 | $21.07 | $23.46 | $29.00 | $29.00 | $24.54 | 100 | 0.05 | 5.42 |
| Annual | $34,180 | $43,830 | $48,790 | $60,320 | $60,320 | $51,050 | ||||
| Birmingham, AL | Hourly | $23.83 | $29.95 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $29.00 | 70 | 0.13 | 13.62 |
| Annual | $49,570 | $62,290 | $62,390 | $62,390 | $62,390 | $60,320 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $24.42 | $31.09 | $36.01 | $36.01 | $36.01 | $33.68 | 50 | 0.03 | 2.76 |
| Annual | $50,790 | $64,670 | $74,900 | $74,900 | $74,900 | $70,040 | ||||
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | Hourly | $23.14 | $23.70 | $26.43 | $29.47 | $29.47 | $27.08 | 40 | 0.11 | 11.73 |
| Annual | $48,140 | $49,300 | $54,980 | $61,290 | $61,290 | $56,320 | ||||
Top industries employing patternmakers, metal and plastic
Foundries employ 49.0% of patternmakers, metal and plastic nationally (720 jobs) at a median $59,170 a year ($28.45 an hour), followed by Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) (10.2%) and Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (9.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundries NAICS 331500 | 720 | 49.0% | $59,170 | $28.45 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) NAICS 3320A1 | 150 | 10.2% | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing NAICS 333500 | 140 | 9.5% | $59,000 | $28.37 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) NAICS 3320A2 | 100 | 6.8% | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) NAICS 3330A1 | 70 | 4.8% | $66,250 | $31.85 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,470). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,090 for patternmakers, metal and plastic in May 2021 and $58,000 in May 2025, with employment of 2,090 and 1,470.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,090 | $23.12 | 2,090 |
| May 2022 | $54,970 | $26.43 | 2,230 |
| May 2023 | $49,670 | $23.88 | 2,150 |
| May 2024 | $54,540 | $26.22 | 1,570 |
| May 2025 | $58,000 | $27.89 | 1,470 |
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
12 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 | Ohio profile | $46.97 | $97,690 | $40,210 | $97,690 | 70 | 0.01 | 1.27 |
| 2 | Minnesota profile | $36.01 | $74,900 | $50,790 | $74,900 | 60 | 0.02 | 2.19 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $31.35 | $65,210 | $63,130 | $70,510 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | Iowa profile | $30.49 | $63,420 | $50,720 | $82,950 | 90 | 0.06 | 6.32 |
| 5 | Alabama profile | $29.95 | $62,290 | $42,880 | $62,390 | 110 | 0.05 | 5.41 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $28.75 | $59,800 | $44,090 | $83,380 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.96 |
| 7 | Indiana profile | $26.32 | $54,740 | $35,560 | $75,830 | 80 | 0.03 | 2.70 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania profile | $26.03 | $54,150 | $45,220 | $75,330 | 160 | 0.03 | 2.85 |
| 9 | Michigan profile | $25.86 | $53,780 | $34,180 | $96,140 | 250 | 0.06 | 5.94 |
| 10 | Wisconsin profile | $25.07 | $52,150 | $47,850 | $75,850 | 230 | 0.08 | 8.42 |
| 11 | Texas profile | $23.74 | $49,390 | $36,000 | $63,320 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.29 |
| 12 | North Carolina profile | $22.62 | $47,050 | $32,060 | $66,500 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.78 |
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 51-4062 Patternmakers, 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 51-4062, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4062.00, 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.