Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for layout workers, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $63,870 ($30.71 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $63,870
- Mean annual wage
- $66,520
- Median hourly wage
- $30.71
- Employment
- 5,970
5,970 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,980 | $19.22 |
| 25th percentile | $50,910 | $24.48 |
| Median (50th) | $63,870 | $30.71 |
| 75th percentile | $79,470 | $38.21 |
| 90th percentile | $93,860 | $45.12 |
Highest-paying states for layout workers, metal and plastic
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $87,570 | 140 |
| Washington | $85,300 | 500 |
| Kansas | $79,240 | 610 |
| Oregon | $75,020 | — |
| Maine | $74,530 | 180 |
| California | $74,490 | 480 |
| Virginia | $70,260 | 1,080 |
| Massachusetts | $63,880 | 90 |
| New York | $62,700 | 70 |
| Michigan | $61,550 | 160 |
Lowest-paying states
- Alabama: $37,590 median annual wage
- New Mexico: $38,560 median annual wage
- South Carolina: $41,650 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $43,250 median annual wage
- Texas: $48,220 median annual wage
About this occupation
Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. Includes shipfitters.
Typical tasks
- Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills.
- Design and prepare templates of wood, paper, or metal.
- Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly.
- Locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.
- Add dimensional details to blueprints or drawings made by other workers.
- Apply pigment to layout surfaces, using paint brushes.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 16.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 49.5% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.4% |
| Associate's degree | 8.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 5.2% |
| Master's degree | 0.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.