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Layout technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$63,870median pay per year, or $30.71 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $39,980lowest 10% earn less
  2. $50,91025th percentile
  3. $63,870median
  4. $79,47075th percentile
  5. $93,860top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median pay for layout workers in metal and plastic was $63,870 a year, which is above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to shrink 3.4% by 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3.4%[3]
Openings per year
500[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do layout technicians make?

The official BLS category is Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic. In May 2025, the median wage was $63,870 a year, or $30.71 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was a little higher, at $66,520 a year, or $31.98 an hour[8].

The range is wide:

In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $19.22 and the 90th percentile was $45.12[9]. A percentile is a boundary line in the pay scale. BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

The all-occupations median was $50,980, so the median layout technician wage was higher than that[2]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not count bonuses outside production or the cost of benefits[11]. About 2.2% of these workers were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state pay for 19 states[13]. Hawaii had the highest median at $87,570, followed by Washington at $85,300 and Kansas at $79,240[13]. Alabama had the lowest listed median at $37,590[13].

Virginia had the most jobs, with 1,080[14]. Kansas had 610, Washington 500, California 480 and Florida 200[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Urban Honolulu had the highest median at $87,570[15]. Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA was next at $79,890, then Wichita, KS at $79,240[15]. The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk area had the most jobs, with 770[16].

Show median pay in 19 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[13]$87,570140
Washington$85,300500
Kansas$79,240610
Oregon$75,020n/a
Maine$74,530180
California$74,490480
Virginia$70,2601,080
Massachusetts$63,88090
New York$62,70070
Michigan$61,550160
Wisconsin$60,810150
Pennsylvania$59,350150
Florida$58,170200
Georgia$52,60080
Texas$48,220190
Tennessee$43,25040
South Carolina$41,65040
New Mexico$38,56060
Alabama$37,590190

How to become a layout technician

BLS lists the typical path like this[7]:

In an O*NET survey of 18 workers, 60% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[17]. Another 15% said some college courses, 12% a post-secondary certificate and 9% an associate's degree[17].

O*NET puts the job in a group where some jobs need little or no experience and others need several months to a year[18]. The facts do not give an exact training length, a license or an exam.

What layout technicians do

Layout workers prepare metal or plastic pieces so that later steps, such as cutting, drilling or welding, happen in the right places[19]. Typical tasks from O*NET include[20]:

O*NET also lists job titles such as layout fitter, layout inspector and layout mechanic[21].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 3.4% between 2025 and 2035[3]. That means about 6,200 jobs in 2025 and 5,900 in 2035, or 200 fewer[3]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[4].

Even with fewer jobs, about 500 openings are projected each year[6]. These include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and the entry path asks for a high school diploma with no prior experience[1][2][7]. Training happens on the job over a moderate period[7]. The trade-off is a small, shrinking field, with employment projected to fall 3.4%[3]. Pay also varies a lot by state, from $37,590 in Alabama to $87,570 in Hawaii[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a layout technician make an hour?
The median was $30.71 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $19.22 and the 90th percentile was $45.12[9].
What education do you need to be a layout technician?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience[7].
Is layout technician work in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 3.4% between 2025 and 2035, but about 500 openings are projected each year[3][6].
What is the highest paying state for layout technicians?
Hawaii, with a median of $87,570 a year, followed by Washington at $85,300[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic in the US was $63,870 per year and $30.71 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic is projected to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,200 to 5,900 jobs (a change of -200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $39,980, 25th percentile $50,910, 75th percentile $79,470, 90th percentile $93,860. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic was $66,520 per year and $31.98 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $19.22, 25th percentile $24.48, 75th percentile $38.21, 90th percentile $45.12. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 2.2% of Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic jobs: Virginia 1,080; Kansas 610; Washington 500; California 480; Florida 200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (areas with at least 100 jobs): Urban Honolulu, HI $87,570; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $79,890; Wichita, KS $79,240; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $74,490; Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $67,540. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic jobs: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 770 (median $67,540); Wichita, KS 590 (median $79,240); Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA 440 (median $79,890); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 250 (median $74,490); Urban Honolulu, HI 140 (median $87,570); Birmingham, AL 90 (median $29,120). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 51-4192.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 60%, Some College Courses 15%, Post-Secondary Certificate 12%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 51-4192.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 51-4192.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Development Mechanic, Layout Fabricator, Layout Fitter, Layout Inspector, Layout Man, Layout Mechanic, Layout Technician (Layout Tech), Layout Worker. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.