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Patternmaker: 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.

$58,000median pay per year, or $27.89 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $42,460lowest 10% earn less
  2. $49,07025th percentile
  3. $58,000median
  4. $69,96075th percentile
  5. $82,590top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Metal and plastic patternmakers had a median pay of $58,000 a year[1]. Employment is projected to fall 22.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-22.8%[2]
Openings per year
100[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do patternmakers make?

This page covers the BLS category Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. The median pay was $58,000 a year, or $27.89 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned above that figure and half earned below it[1]. The average was $60,610 a year, or $29.14 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][8] $42,460 $20.42
25th percentile[3][8] $49,070 $23.59
Median[1] $58,000 $27.89
75th percentile[3][8] $69,960 $33.63
90th percentile[3][8] $82,590 $39.71

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,460, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $82,590[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. The occupation is small, with about 1,470 wage and salary jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state data for only 12 states[12]. Ohio was first with a median of $97,690, based on 70 jobs[12]. Minnesota followed at $74,900 and Massachusetts at $65,210[12]. North Carolina was last at $47,050[12].

Michigan had the most jobs at 250, then Wisconsin at 230 and Pennsylvania at 160[13].

Two metro areas had at least 100 jobs[14]. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI had a median of $49,070 and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI had $48,790[14]. Their job counts were 110 and 100[15].

Show median pay in 12 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Ohio[12]$97,69070
Minnesota$74,90060
Massachusetts$65,210n/a
Iowa$63,42090
Alabama$62,290110
Washington$59,80030
Indiana$54,74080
Pennsylvania$54,150160
Michigan$53,780250
Wisconsin$52,150230
Texas$49,39040
North Carolina$47,05040

How to become a patternmaker

The training details here come from a BLS profile of metal and plastic machine workers, which covers a wider group than patternmakers[17]. That profile says these workers typically need a high school diploma and about 1 year of on-the-job training[18]. It also says some community colleges and other schools offer certificate programs and courses on running these machines, including CNC programming[19]. Coursework in programming, math and vocational technology during high school could help[20].

Trainees often begin by watching and helping experienced workers, then take on harder tasks[21]. How long training takes depends on how complex the equipment is. Some operators are trained in a few months, and others need up to 1 year[22].

O*NET places the job in a group needing medium preparation, where earlier work-related skill, knowledge or experience is required[23]. The BLS profile says certification can show competence and help with advancement[24].

With skill and experience, workers may move to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility, including supervisory roles[25][26].

What patternmakers do

O*NET describes the job as laying out, machining, fitting and assembling parts for foundry patterns, core boxes and match plates in metal or plastic[27]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include metal patternmaker, mold maker, model maker and fixture builder[29]. The wider BLS profile names mechanical skills and computer skills as important, along with the stamina to stand for long periods[30][31][32].

Where they work

The wider BLS profile says these workers often run powerful, high-speed machines that can be dangerous, so they follow safety rules and usually wear protective gear such as safety glasses, earplugs and steel-toed boots[33]. Other safety equipment depends on the setting and machine[34].

Fabricated metal product manufacturing was the largest employer in that wider group, at 25%[35]. In that group, full-time work is typical, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[36]. Evening and weekend work is also common because many manufacturers run machines for long periods[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of patternmakers, metal and plastic, to fall 22.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,500 to 1,100 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[37]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS lists productivity change as a factor. Software and 3D printers now do some patternmaking tasks, so fewer of these workers are needed[38].

Even with the decline, BLS expects about 100 openings a year[5]. Openings include workers who retire or switch occupations as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.1% of workers leave the labor force and 6.6% move to a different occupation[39].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a small trade with pay above the all-occupations median and a wide range from the 10th to the 90th percentile[1][3][4]. Entry needs a high school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. The outlook is the main caution, since employment is projected to fall 22.8% while all occupations are projected to grow[2][37]. Openings still exist, at about 100 a year[5].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[40].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a patternmaker make an hour?
BLS lists the median for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic at $27.89 an hour in May 2025, and the average at $29.14[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $20.42 and the 90th was $39.71[8].
What education do you need to be a patternmaker?
The BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, with no related work experience[6].
How long does it take to become a patternmaker?
BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. The wider metal and plastic machine workers profile says about 1 year of on-the-job training is typical[17][18].
Is patternmaker a growing job?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 22.8% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][37]. About 100 openings a year are still expected[5].
What is the highest paying state for patternmakers?
Ohio had the highest median annual wage at $97,690 in May 2025, based on 70 jobs[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic in the US was $58,000 per year and $27.89 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic is projected to decline 22.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,500 to 1,100 jobs (a change of -300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $42,460, 25th percentile $49,070, 75th percentile $69,960, 90th percentile $82,590. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 100 openings for Patternmakers, 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
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Patternmakers, 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
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic was $60,610 per year and $29.14 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: 10th percentile $20.42, 25th percentile $23.59, 75th percentile $33.63, 90th percentile $39.71. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,470 people were employed as Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic jobs: Michigan 250; Wisconsin 230; Pennsylvania 160; Alabama 110; Iowa 90. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (areas with at least 100 jobs): Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $49,070; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $48,790. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic jobs: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI 110 (median $49,070); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 100 (median $48,790); Birmingham, AL 70 (median $62,390); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 50 (median $74,900); Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 40 (median $54,980). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Metal and Plastic Machine Workers" covers Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 51-4062.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 51-4062.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Die Cast Die Maker, Fixture Builder, Journeyman Patternmaker, Layout Technician (Layout Tech), Metal Mold Maker, Metal Patternmaker, Model Maker, Mold Maker. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of metal and plastic machine workers in 2025: Fabricated metal product manufacturing 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: Productivity change - share decreases as some patternmaking tasks are done by software and 3D printers, requiring fewer of these workers. BLS Employment Projections
  39. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  40. 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. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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.