Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Patternmakers, metal and plastic (51-4062) work in a small, specialized occupation with national employment of about 2,000 people. The role combines mechanical ability, fine motor skills, and strong attention to detail, supported by mathematics, science, and computer and information technology skills. Creativity and innovation also play a part, along with critical and analytical thinking and adaptability. The typical education needed to enter this occupation is a high school diploma or equivalent, so the field may be accessible to individuals who build their capabilities through hands-on experience and skill development rather than longer formal education. Nationally, the median annual salary is $54,540, with some locations offering higher pay. While overall projected employment growth is negative, certain states and metro areas show stronger opportunity scores than others. People considering this path may also want to explore related roles such as other metal and plastic workers, machine setters and operators, or tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners as alternative or complementary career options.
Patternmakers, metal and plastic earn a national median annual salary of $54,540, placing earnings in a mid-range level for skilled technical work. Pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Minnesota reports a median salary of $74,900 and Ohio stands out with a median of $97,690, both notably higher than the national median. Washington’s $59,800 and Pennsylvania’s $54,150 are closer to the national figure, while Texas shows $49,390. At the metro level, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI aligns with its state at $74,900, and Birmingham, AL offers $62,390. Other highlighted metros, including Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI; Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI; and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ, show median salaries around the high $40,000s to mid-$50,000s. This variation suggests that geographic choice can have a meaningful impact on earning potential for this occupation.
The employment outlook for patternmakers, metal and plastic is challenging based on current projections. National employment stands at about 2,000 workers, and projected employment growth is -24.4%. Annual openings are listed as 0, indicating very limited expected hiring across the country. This combination points to a shrinking occupation with few new positions anticipated over the projection period. Individuals interested in this field may need to prepare for a highly competitive environment, where opportunities may come primarily from a small number of positions in specific locations rather than broad national growth. Because employment is relatively low to begin with, even modest changes can significantly affect available jobs. Some people may choose to keep similar occupations in mind, such as other metal and plastic workers, welding and brazing machine operators, cutting or milling machine setters and operators, or tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners, when planning long-term career paths.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for patternmakers, metal and plastic. Among states, Washington, Texas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Ohio rank highest by opportunity score. Minnesota combines a relatively high employment level of 60 with a median salary of $74,900 and an opportunity score of 49.59. Ohio shows an especially high median salary of $97,690 and an opportunity score of 42.84, with 70 employed. Pennsylvania has the largest employment among these states at 160 and a median salary of $54,150. Washington and Texas have smaller employment numbers (30 and 40 respectively), with salaries of $59,800 and $49,390. All listed states share the same projected growth rate of -24.4%. At the metro level, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI leads in opportunity score (53.85), pairing 50 jobs with a $74,900 median salary. Detroit, Milwaukee, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, and Birmingham also offer notable clusters of employment and varying pay levels, giving job seekers several focused geographic options.
Patternmakers, metal and plastic typically enter the field with a high school diploma or equivalent as the standard education requirement. This creates a pathway for individuals who are ready to develop occupation-specific abilities through targeted skill building and practical experience rather than extensive formal schooling. Success in this role draws on a broad set of strengths. Mechanical aptitude and fine motor skills support hands-on work, while being detail oriented is important for accuracy. Mathematics and science provide a foundation for understanding measurements, processes, or technical concepts. Computers and information technology skills are also important, reflecting the role of digital tools in modern work environments. Creativity and innovation contribute to solving design or production challenges, and critical and analytical thinking help with problem-solving and decision-making. Physical strength and stamina and adaptability round out the profile, supporting the physical and changing demands that can come with this occupation.
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