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.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Layout workers, metal and plastic, work in a relatively small occupational niche, with national employment of about 6,000. The role combines hands-on work with the use of mathematics, mechanical aptitude, and fine motor skills. Typical entry into this field is accessible with a high school diploma or equivalent, which can make it attractive to those who prefer to start working without pursuing a longer formal education path. Key strengths for this career include being detail oriented, physically strong with good stamina, and capable of critical and analytical thinking. Creativity, innovation, leadership, and project management skills can also add value and support advancement into more responsible roles. Nationally, the median annual salary is $61,870, and there are several states and metro areas with higher median pay. However, the occupation’s projected employment growth is -5.4%, which indicates a declining employment outlook that should be weighed carefully by prospective entrants and career changers.
For layout workers, metal and plastic, the national median annual salary is $61,870. Earnings vary by location, and several states and metros offer notably higher median salaries. Among the top states, Washington reports a median salary of $85,300, while California shows $74,490 and Virginia $70,260. Massachusetts and New York are closer to the national level, at $63,880 and $62,700 respectively. At the metro level, there is even more variation. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area stands out with a median salary of $123,080. Other metros such as Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($75,020), San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ($74,490), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($69,010) are also above the national median. These figures suggest that geographic choices can significantly influence earning potential in this occupation.
This occupation currently has national employment of 6,000 layout workers, metal and plastic, with a projected employment growth rate of -5.4%. This negative growth indicates that overall employment in the field is expected to decline over the projection period. Annual openings are listed as 0, which underscores the limited expansion and turnover opportunities reflected in the projections. Because employment is not expected to grow and no annual openings are projected, individuals considering this path should recognize that opportunities may be constrained compared with expanding occupations. At the same time, the presence of employment across several states and metro areas shows that roles do exist in specific locations. People interested in this career may want to pay particular attention to local conditions in states and metros where employment is currently higher or where opportunity scores are stronger, even within the context of a shrinking national job base.
Location plays a significant role in the opportunity profile for layout workers, metal and plastic. Among states, California has a relatively strong combination of a median salary of $74,490, employment of 480, and an opportunity score of 67.38, the highest among the listed states. Massachusetts and New York have smaller employment bases (90 and 70) but opportunity scores above 65 and median salaries around the low $60,000s. Washington shows a high median salary of $85,300 and employment of 500, but a lower opportunity score of 56.29. Virginia has the largest listed employment at 1,080, with a median salary of $70,260 and an opportunity score of 54.96. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA post opportunity scores above 62. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA combines a high opportunity score with a median salary of $123,080, while San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA also offer relatively high median pay with moderate opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for layout workers, metal and plastic is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who want to enter the workforce without completing a college degree. However, success in this occupation relies on a strong skill set. Mathematics and science are important foundational skills, supporting the more technical aspects of the work. Being detail oriented, mechanically inclined, and possessing fine motor abilities are also central to effective performance. Physical strength and stamina matter because the work can involve sustained physical activity. Critical and analytical thinking, along with creativity and innovation, help with problem solving and improving processes. Leadership and project management skills can support coordination of work and may be particularly helpful for those aiming to take on more responsibility or move into supervisory roles over time, even within an occupation that generally starts with a high school–level education.
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