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Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salaries by State

Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for model makers, metal and plastics across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).

National mean salary $68,570 ≈ $33/hr
National median salary $63,340
Total employment 2,610 nationwide

Job Outlook, 2024–2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.

Projected growth -18.2% Decline
Annual openings 300 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 3,200 → 2,600 (-600)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Salary Map

Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.

Mean annual wage $49,000–$59,000 $59,000–$60,000 $60,000–$67,000 $67,000–$75,000 $75,000–$97,000 U.S. mean $68,570

💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States

  1. California$97,030
  2. New York$82,450
  3. Florida$76,110
  4. Massachusetts$75,160
  5. Texas$74,440

📉 5 Lowest-Paying States

  1. North Carolina$49,100
  2. Rhode Island$54,510
  3. Indiana$59,390
  4. Ohio$59,510
  5. Illinois$60,260

State Rankings

⇄ Compare specific states
#StateMeanMedian Hourlyvs. U.S.Employment
1 California $97,030 $92,960 $47 +41.5% 260
2 New York $82,450 $77,710 $40 +20.2% 120
3 Florida $76,110 $79,930 $37 +11% 50
4 Massachusetts $75,160 $67,830 $36 +9.6% 100
5 Texas $74,440 $65,920 $36 +8.6% 230
6 New Jersey $68,850 $72,340 $33 +0.4% 70
7 Michigan $66,770 $60,540 $32 -2.6% 710
8 Pennsylvania $63,870 $52,990 $31 -6.9% 40
9 Iowa $61,710 $61,550 $30 -10% 40
10 Utah $60,480 $53,650 $29 -11.8% 60
11 Illinois $60,260 $68,890 $29 -12.1% —
12 Ohio $59,510 $60,880 $29 -13.2% 60
13 Indiana $59,390 $62,620 $29 -13.4% 50
14 Rhode Island $54,510 $55,560 $26 -20.5% 40
15 North Carolina $49,100 $45,760 $24 -28.4% —

Top-Paying Metro Areas

Highest median pay among 12 metro areas.

#Metro areaMedianMeanEmployment
1 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $94,950 $98,390 120
2 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $89,960 $84,380 70
3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,780 $91,910 40
4 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $81,110 $74,150 490
5 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $77,710 $79,910 80
6 Rochester, NY $76,520 $71,870 40
7 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $70,980 $78,990 60
8 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $68,890 $60,650 —
9 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $58,500 $56,870 60
10 Raleigh-Cary, NC $45,760 $48,830 —

Pay by Industry

Highest-paying industries employing model makers, metal and plastics (BLS OEWS, by median).

#IndustryMedianMeanEmployment
1 Motor Vehicle Manufacturing $132,310 $141,510 50
2 Engineering Services $97,750 $95,150 210
3 Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services $97,740 $94,580 260
4 Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing $89,330 $88,600 70
5 Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing $89,330 $88,770 60
6 Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods $85,290 $90,630 60
7 Sector 42 - Wholesale Trade $85,290 $91,310 70
8 Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $84,780 $81,190 100
9 Management of Companies and Enterprises $77,790 $72,670 40
10 Management of Companies and Enterprises $77,790 $72,670 40
11 Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises $77,790 $72,670 40
12 Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing $77,210 $80,630 110

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do model makers, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?

The median model makers, metal and plastic salary in the United States is $63,340 per year (mean $68,570), and about 80% earn between $39,760 and $99,010.

How much do model makers, metal and plastic make per hour?

Roughly $33 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $68,570 and 2,080 work hours per year.

Which state pays model makers, metal and plastic the most?

California has the highest average pay for model makers, metal and plastic at $97,030 per year (median $92,960).

What is the job outlook for model makers, metal and plastic?

Employment is projected to change -18.2% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 300 openings per year.