Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for model makers, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $63,340 ($30.45 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $63,340
- Mean annual wage
- $68,570
- Median hourly wage
- $30.45
- Employment
- 2,610
2,610 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,760 | $19.12 |
| 25th percentile | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| Median (50th) | $63,340 | $30.45 |
| 75th percentile | $86,740 | $41.70 |
| 90th percentile | $99,010 | $47.60 |
Highest-paying states for model makers, metal and plastic
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $92,960 | 260 |
| Florida | $79,930 | 50 |
| New York | $77,710 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | 70 |
| Illinois | $68,890 | — |
| Massachusetts | $67,830 | 100 |
| Texas | $65,920 | 230 |
| Indiana | $62,620 | 50 |
| Iowa | $61,550 | 40 |
| Ohio | $60,880 | 60 |
Lowest-paying states
- North Carolina: $45,760 median annual wage
- Pennsylvania: $52,990 median annual wage
- Utah: $53,650 median annual wage
- Rhode Island: $55,560 median annual wage
- Michigan: $60,540 median annual wage
About this occupation
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Includes template makers.
Typical tasks
- Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences.
- Cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets.
- Drill, countersink, and ream holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools.
- Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models.
- Align, fit, and join parts, using bolts and screws or by welding or gluing.
- Program computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 11.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 44.3% |
| Some college, no degree | 27.0% |
| Associate's degree | 9.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 6.4% |
| Master's degree | 0.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.4% |
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.