Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for patternmakers, 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).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Ohio$76,100
- Minnesota$69,410
- Iowa$66,650
- Massachusetts$65,900
- Washington$61,410
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Texas$49,850
- North Carolina$50,370
- Indiana$57,210
- Alabama$57,590
- Michigan$57,970
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $76,100 | $97,690 | $37 | +25.6% | 70 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $69,410 | $74,900 | $33 | +14.5% | 60 |
| 3 | Iowa | $66,650 | $63,420 | $32 | +10% | 90 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $65,900 | $65,210 | $32 | +8.7% | — |
| 5 | Washington | $61,410 | $59,800 | $30 | +1.3% | 30 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $58,660 | $52,150 | $28 | -3.2% | 230 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $58,390 | $54,150 | $28 | -3.7% | 160 |
| 8 | Michigan | $57,970 | $53,780 | $28 | -4.4% | 250 |
| 9 | Alabama | $57,590 | $62,290 | $28 | -5% | 110 |
| 10 | Indiana | $57,210 | $54,740 | $28 | -5.6% | 80 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $50,370 | $47,050 | $24 | -16.9% | 40 |
| 12 | Texas | $49,850 | $49,390 | $24 | -17.8% | 40 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 6 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $74,900 | $70,040 | 50 |
| 2 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $66,800 | $62,170 | 40 |
| 3 | Birmingham, AL | $62,390 | $60,320 | 70 |
| 4 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $54,980 | $56,320 | 40 |
| 5 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $49,070 | $55,280 | 110 |
| 6 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $48,790 | $51,050 | 100 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing patternmakers, metal and plastics (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $74,900 | $68,790 | 60 |
| 2 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $74,900 | $68,790 | 60 |
| 3 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $68,990 | $73,150 | 60 |
| 4 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $66,250 | $69,500 | 70 |
| 5 | Machinery Manufacturing | $60,320 | $60,910 | 280 |
| 6 | Foundries | $59,170 | $63,840 | 720 |
| 7 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | $59,070 | $63,780 | 720 |
| 8 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $59,000 | $57,280 | 140 |
| 9 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $58,200 | $61,040 | 1,440 |
| 10 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $58,000 | $60,610 | 1,470 |
| 11 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $58,000 | $60,610 | 1,470 |
| 12 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $49,070 | $51,520 | 260 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do patternmakers, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median patternmakers, metal and plastic salary in the United States is $58,000 per year (mean $60,610), and about 80% earn between $42,460 and $82,590.
How much do patternmakers, metal and plastic make per hour?
Roughly $29 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $60,610 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays patternmakers, metal and plastic the most?
Ohio has the highest average pay for patternmakers, metal and plastic at $76,100 per year (median $97,690).
What is the job outlook for patternmakers, metal and plastic?
Employment is projected to change -24.4% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 100 openings per year.