51 Series · SOC 51-4061
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $63,340
- Median / year
- $99,010
- Top 10% earn
- -18.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 2,610
- US workers
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $63,340 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $63,340, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $39,760 (10th percentile) to $99,010 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 2,610 US workers. California pays the most ($92,960), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $63,340, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 54% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #13 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 18.2% by 2033.
- $63,340
- Median annual wage
- Top 46%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #13 of 105
- in Production
- 2.5×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $92,960. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4061) pays a national median of $63,340 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $39,760 at the 10th percentile to $99,010 at the 90th, with a mean of $68,570 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 2,610 Americans work in this occupation across 15 reporting states and 11 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -18.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $92,960, which is +47% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $94,950 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$63,340
per year
Median Hourly
$30.45/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$68,570
average
Employment
2,610
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Model Makers, Metal and Plastic pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$63,340 Top 46% higher than 54% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Model Makers, Metal and Plastic; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic sits on the slower-growing side at -18.2% growth and $63,340 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-18.2%
Declining
Annual Openings
300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Rework or alter component model or parts as required to ensure that products meet standards.
- ▸ Drill, countersink, and ream holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools.
- ▸ Grind, file, and sand parts to finished dimensions.
- ▸ Devise and construct tools, dies, molds, jigs, and fixtures, or modify existing tools and equipment.
- ▸ Record specifications, production operations, and final dimensions of models for use in establishing operating standards and procedures.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$39,760
25th Percentile
$47,360
Median
$63,340
75th Percentile
$86,740
90th Percentile
$99,010
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 15 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $92,960 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Florida | $79,930 | +26% above national |
| 3 | New York | $77,710 | +23% above national |
| 4 | New Jersey | $72,340 | +14% above national |
| 5 | Illinois | $68,890 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $67,830 | +7% above national |
| 7 | Texas | $65,920 | +4% above national |
| 8 | Indiana | $62,620 | 1% below national |
| 9 | Iowa | $61,550 | 3% below national |
| 10 | Ohio | $60,880 | 4% below national |
| 11 | Michigan | $60,540 | 4% below national |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $55,560 | 12% below national |
| 13 | Utah | $53,650 | 15% below national |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $52,990 | 16% below national |
| 15 | North Carolina | $45,760 | 28% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 11 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,950 | +50% above national |
| 2 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $89,960 | +42% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,780 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $81,110 | +28% above national |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $77,710 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $76,520 | +21% above national |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $70,980 | +12% above national |
| 8 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $68,890 | +9% above national |
| 9 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $58,500 | 8% below national |
| 10 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,760 | 28% below national |
| 11 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $44,220 | 30% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Model Makers, Metal and Plastic pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $86,740/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $92,960/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.