Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$71,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$7,500
10.6% of base
Total target cash
$78,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$4,50050th$7,50075th$12,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences.
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models.
Program computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts.
Inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers.
Cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets.
Top skills:Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisCritical ThinkingMonitoringTroubleshooting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic pay by experience level
Entry level$41,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$49,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$65,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$90,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$102,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-18.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
300
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
800 workers
$73,500
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
490 workers
$54,500
Plastics Product Manufacturing
470 workers
$55,000
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
280 workers
$86,500
Specialized Design Services
270 workers
$65,500
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
260 workers
$98,000
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
250 workers
$73,500
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
220 workers
$49,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
210 workers
$74,000
Machinery Manufacturing
150 workers
$58,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $54,780 to $63,340.
+15.6% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$41,000
Early career25th percentile
$49,000
Median50th percentile
$65,500
Experienced75th percentile
$90,000
Top earners90th percentile
$102,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisCritical ThinkingMonitoringTroubleshooting
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences.
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models.
Program computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts.
Inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers.
Cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$71,000
2027$73,500
2028$76,000
2029$78,500
2030$81,500
2031$84,500
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
Get your Personal Pay Report for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Model Makers, Metal and Plastic make?
The median market pay for a Model Makers, Metal and Plastic in the United States is about $71,000 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Model Makers, Metal and Plastic?
Most Model Makers, Metal and Plastic pay falls between about $49,000 (25th percentile) and $90,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $102,500.
What does a Model Makers, Metal and Plastic do?
Core responsibilities include: study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences; and set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models.
Is pay for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $54,780 in 2020 to $63,340 in 2025, a change of +15.6% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic pays 27% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
Need Model Makers, Metal and Plastic pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
