Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic vs Model Makers, Wood: $64K vs $57K Median Pay

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic vs Model Makers, Wood: what changes?

Consider Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic if you want to 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. Consider Model Makers, Wood if you would rather construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic and Model Makers, Wood. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

National median pay (2025): $63,870
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 500

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 3.4% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic brief

Model Makers, Wood

National median pay (2025): $56,550
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 100

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 3.3% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Model Makers, Wood brief

How the national numbers differ

Typical preparation differs.

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Model Makers, Wood: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on median pay

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic is at $63,870, compared with $56,550 for Model Makers, Wood.

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on annual openings

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic is at 500 annual openings, compared with 100 annual openings for Model Makers, Wood.

Model Makers, Wood has the edge on projected growth

Model Makers, Wood is at -3.3% projected growth, compared with -3.4% projected growth for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic.

35.2/ 100

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

24.1/ 100

Model Makers, Wood

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic vs Model Makers, Wood

Dimension	Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic	Model Makers, Wood
Median pay (2025)	$63,870	$56,550
Pay percentile	55.2 percentile	41.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-3.4%	-3.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	500	100
2025 employment	6,200	700
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic brief Read Model Makers, Wood brief

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic vs Model Makers, Wood: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

Model Makers, Wood

How the national numbers differ

Typical preparation differs.

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on median pay

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on annual openings

Model Makers, Wood has the edge on projected growth

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic vs Model Makers, Wood

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