Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 51-4061 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$63,336
$30.45/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic is $63,336 per year ($30.45/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $47,362 and $86,736 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $99,008 per year. There are approximately 2,610 model makers, metal and plastic employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Includes template makers.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-18.2%
Much slower than average
Annual openings
300
per year, on avg
Workforce today
3K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Plastics Product Manufacturing
NAICS 326100
470
$47,510
Specialized Design Services
NAICS 541400
270
$60,540
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
NAICS 541300
260
$97,740
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
NAICS 541900
220
$45,250
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
NAICS 339900
130
$71,450
Wage range across top 5 industries: $45,250 to $97,740 (116% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$19.12
$39,770
P25
$22.77
$47,362
P50MEDIAN
$30.45
$63,336
P75
$41.70
$86,736
P90
$47.60
$99,008
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%
Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average model makers, metal and plastic salary?
The national median salary for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic is $63,336 per year ($30.45/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $47,362 and $86,736 annually.
How much do top-earning model makers, metal and plastic make?
The 90th percentile salary for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic is $99,008 per year ($47.60/hr). The 75th percentile is $86,736 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for model makers, metal and plastic?
Entry-level Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn approximately $39,770 per year ($19.12/hr). The 25th percentile is $47,362 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
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