How much should I pay a model makers, wood in 2026?

A competitive 2026 offer for Model Makers, Wood is $56,555 to $87,152 (market median to the 75th percentile). BLS ECI shows manufacturing wages growing about 3.3% a year, so budget a similar annual increase to stay at market.

Is a salary competitive for a model makers, wood?

Compare it to the BLS OEWS range: below $37,648 is below market, $56,555 to $87,152 is competitive, and above $87,152 is above market for Model Makers, Wood.

How is model makers, wood pay changing in 2026?

Median pay for this role rose 9.1% between the May 2024 and May 2025 BLS surveys, outpacing the 3.3% wage growth of Manufacturing (BLS ECI). Manufacturing is running a 3.7% job-openings rate with quits at 1.5% (BLS JOLTS). The openings rate has drifted up from 3.4% to 3.7% over the past quarter.

Model Makers, Wood Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks

SOC 51-7031 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data

Median Annual Salary

$56,555

$27.19/hr

Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026

Is this a competitive Model Makers salary in 2026?

Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS June 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q2 2026 wage growth.

Check a salary or offer:$Competitive · ~P50

P10$35K

P25$38K

P50$57K

P75$87K

P90$98K

Drag the dot or type an amount above.

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Demand: STABLE. Demand is stable -- manufacturing openings are at 3.7% (JOLTS, June 2026). A standard market: pay near the median, no urgency premium needed.

📈

Merit budget: Wages in manufacturing are rising about 3.3% a year (BLS ECI, Q2 2026). Budget a 2.9-3.4% merit increase to hold this role at market.

Our read

For a competitive 2026 offer, target $56,555 to $87,152 (market median to the 75th percentile). Anchor on the median.

Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.

How Model Makers pay is moving in 2026

Trend, demand, and spread context from BLS OEWS, JOLTS, and ECI

Pay trend

Median pay for this role rose 9.1% between the May 2024 and May 2025 BLS surveys, outpacing the 3.3% wage growth of Manufacturing (BLS ECI).

Hiring demand · STABLE

Manufacturing is running a 3.7% job-openings rate with quits at 1.5% (BLS JOLTS). The openings rate has drifted up from 3.4% to 3.7% over the past quarter.

Pay spread

Top earners (P90) make about 2.8 times what entry-level (P10) workers make in this role. That spread is wider than typical, so expect large pay differences by experience, employer size, and geography; build generous ranges and differentiate strongly.

What changed recently

Aug 4, 2026JOLTS June 2026: sector openings eased to 3.7%, with nondurable goods driving the pullback. Quits steady at 1.5%.
Jul 31, 2026ECI Q2 2026: sector wages growing 3.3% per year, holding steady.

Commentary is generated from published BLS figures (OEWS May 2025 vs May 2024, JOLTS June 2026, ECI Q2 2026) and refreshed each release. It is interpretation, not a BLS product.

Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026

Next refresh: May 2027

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The national median salary for Model Makers, Wood is $56,555 per year ($27.19/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $37,648 and $87,152 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $98,051 per year. There are approximately 280 model makers, wood employed in the United States.

About This Role

BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018

Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.

Career Outlook

BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034

10-year growth

-4.5%

Slower than average

Annual openings

100

per year, on avg

Workforce today

900

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 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific

Industry	Workforce	Median Pay
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) NAICS 3370A1	150	$38,710
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100	50	$95,990

Wage range across top 5 industries: $38,710 to $95,990 (148% spread)

Wage Percentiles

Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)

Percentile	Hourly Rate	Annual Salary
P10	$16.73	$34,798
P25	$18.10	$37,648
P50MEDIAN	$27.19	$56,555
P75	$41.90	$87,152
P90	$47.14	$98,051

Market Context Signal

JOLTS · manufacturing sector

Stable

Openings Rate

3.7%

Quits Rate

1.5%

Manufacturing openings eased to 481K (-36K) in June, rate 3.7%, with nondurable goods driving the pullback (-55K). Quits held at 1.5%. The sector remains stable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average model makers, wood salary?

The national median salary for Model Makers, Wood is $56,555 per year ($27.19/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $37,648 and $87,152 annually.

How much do top-earning model makers, wood make?

The 90th percentile salary for Model Makers, Wood is $98,051 per year ($47.14/hr). The 75th percentile is $87,152 per year.

What is the entry-level salary for model makers, wood?

Entry-level Model Makers, Wood (10th percentile) earn approximately $34,798 per year ($16.73/hr). The 25th percentile is $37,648 per year.

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About This Data

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.

Next OEWS release: May 2027Verify on BLS.gov →

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