Model Makers, Wood
Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed
Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.
Median pay: $56,550/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -4.5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
• Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.
• Verify dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices.
• Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
• Plan, lay out, and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products.
• Construct wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools.
• Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.
• Mark identifying information on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods and details.
What's the median pay for Model Makers, Wood?
The median pay for Model Makers, Wood is $56,550 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Model Makers, Wood?
Employment for Model Makers, Wood is projected to change -4.5% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Model Makers, Wood?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Model Makers, Wood?
About 100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.