Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages O*NET task lead SOC 51-4062

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

O*NET task statements lead this Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic card before OEWS pay; neighboring titles include Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, Gas Plant Operators.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($107K) , Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers ($63K) , Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K) , Gas Plant Operators ($88K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-4062 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Program computerized numerical control machine tools
  2. 2. Verify conformance of patterns or template dimensions to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, scales, and microm…
  3. 3. Set up and operate machine tools, such as milling machines, lathes, drill presses, and grinders, to machine castings or patterns
  4. 4. Create computer models of patterns or parts, using modeling software
  5. 5. Repair and rework templates and patterns
  6. 6. Assemble pattern sections, using hand tools, bolts, screws, rivets, glue, or welding equipment
  7. 7. Read and interpret blueprints or drawings of parts to be cast or patterns to be made, compute dimensions, and plan operational sequences
  8. 8. Construct platforms, fixtures, and jigs for holding and placing patterns
  9. 9. Clean and finish patterns or templates, using emery cloths, files, scrapers, and power grinders
  10. 10. Design and create templates, patterns, or coreboxes according to work orders, sample parts, or mockups
  11. 11. Mark identification numbers or symbols onto patterns or templates
  12. 12. Lay out and draw or scribe patterns onto material, using compasses, protractors, rulers, scribes, or other instruments

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: O*NET ranks Operations Monitoring first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-4062 - lead skill Operations Monitoring at 3.4 ; lead knowledge Production and Processing. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Operations Monitoring 3.4
  2. 2. Operation and Control 3.1
  3. 3. Quality Control Analysis 3.1
  4. 4. Reading Comprehension 3.0
  5. 5. Active Listening 3.0
  6. 6. Speaking 3.0
  7. 7. Critical Thinking 3.0
  8. 8. Monitoring 3.0

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Production and Processing 3.6
  2. 2. Mechanical 3.4
  3. 3. Mathematics 3.4
  4. 4. Design 3.3
  5. 5. Engineering and Technology 3.1
  6. 6. Customer and Personal Service 2.8
National median after O*NET task lead
$58,000
/year · 12 published task lines above
Lead task: Program computerized numerical control machine tools
$58K
National median
↓ -24%
Growth 2024-2034
100
Annual openings
1,470
Estimated US jobs
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Highest-pay peer · $107K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

1. Iowa $63,420
2. Ohio $97,690
3. Wisconsin $52,150
4. Indiana $54,740
5. Michigan $53,780
6. Washington $59,800
7. Alabama $62,290
8. Minnesota $74,900
9. Pennsylvania $54,150
10. Massachusetts $65,210

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $63,340
  2. 2. Gas Plant Operators $87,820
  3. 3. Power Distributors and Dispatchers $106,730
  4. 4. Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $63,870
  5. 5. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers $96,710
  6. 6. Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers $62,750

O*NET publishes 12 leading task statements for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4062). The national OEWS median is $58,000 inside Production Occupations. Same-group neighbors: Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, Gas Plant Operators. Lead published task: Program computerized numerical control machine tools.

Employment Projections expect -24% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 100 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Iowa at $63,420. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $106,730. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic pay-rank #20 in Production Occupations

Among 105 detailed Production Occupations with a published OEWS median, Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic is pay-rank #20, the upper third of that major group. The order is ROW_NUMBER on national median (title as tiebreak), not a worker-level percentile.

Other upper-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 51-4062 · national median $58,000 · upper third of Production Occupations (#20/105). The day-to-day tasks above set this role apart from peers with a similar title.

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 51-4062

Iowa · top state for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

$63K published median

Ohio · #2 state pay

$98K · behind Iowa

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Highest-pay peer vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic · $107K

Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

Lower-pay peer beside Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic · $63K

Compare Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic with another occupation →

Role and task next reads

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic full salary map

State and metro OEWS after the task lead

Compare tasks and pay

Side-by-side with another occupation

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Production Occupations titles sit near Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic at the top of the pay table? ▼
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic is pay-rank #20 of 105 detailed Production Occupations with an OEWS median, upper third. Nearest upper-third titles: Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders ($58K), Tire Builders ($57K), Machinists ($59K), Model Makers, Wood ($57K). Rank is ROW_NUMBER on national median.
What do patternmakers, metal and plastic do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. Leading ones include: Program computerized numerical control machine tools; Verify conformance of patterns or template dimensions to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, scales, and microm…; Set up and operate machine tools, such as milling machines, lathes, drill presses, and grinders, to machine castings or patterns; Create computer models of patterns or parts, using modeling software. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for patternmakers, metal and plastic? ▼
For SOC 51-4062, O*NET importance scores lead with Operations Monitoring (3.4), Operation and Control (3.1), Quality Control Analysis (3.1), Reading Comprehension (3.0). Knowledge areas emphasize Production and Processing, Mechanical, Mathematics. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $58,000 as the national median for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. The published 10th-90th range is $42,460 to $82,590. Beside Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($106,730), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic is -24%. Projected annual openings: about 100. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic? ▼
BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic? ▼
Iowa ($63,420), Ohio ($97,690), Wisconsin ($52,150) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 51-4062. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics