Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: $63K vs $58K Median Pay

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: what changes?

Consider Model Makers, Metal and Plastic if you want to set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Consider Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic if you would rather lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic and Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. 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

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

National median pay (2025): $63,340
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: Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 200

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 17.3% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Model Makers, Metal and Plastic brief

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

National median pay (2025): $58,000
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: Verify conformance of patterns or template dimensions to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, scales, and micrometers.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 100

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 22.8% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic brief

How the national numbers differ

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on median pay

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic is at $63,340, compared with $58,000 for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic.

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on annual openings

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic is at 200 annual openings, compared with 100 annual openings for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic.

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on projected growth

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic is at -17.3% projected growth, compared with -22.8% projected growth for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic.

24.6/ 100

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

20.6/ 100

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

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

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Dimension	Model Makers, Metal and Plastic	Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
Median pay (2025)	$63,340	$58,000
Pay percentile	54.1 percentile	43.4 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-17.3%	-22.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	200	100
2025 employment	2,600	1,500
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 3	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 Model Makers, Metal and Plastic brief Read Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic brief

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

How the national numbers differ

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on median pay

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on annual openings

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic has the edge on projected growth

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

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