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Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic: Job Description

Lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.

What Do Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Do?

The day-to-day responsibilities of patternmakers, metal and plastic span:

• Verify conformance of patterns or template dimensions to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, scales, and micrometers.
• Set up and operate machine tools, such as milling machines, lathes, drill presses, and grinders, to machine castings or patterns.
• Repair and rework templates and patterns.
• Assemble pattern sections, using hand tools, bolts, screws, rivets, glue, or welding equipment.
• Read and interpret blueprints or drawings of parts to be cast or patterns to be made, compute dimensions, and plan operational sequences.
• Construct platforms, fixtures, and jigs for holding and placing patterns.
• Clean and finish patterns or templates, using emery cloths, files, scrapers, and power grinders.
• Mark identification numbers or symbols onto patterns or templates.

Skills and Knowledge

Top patternmakers, metal and plastic rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.

Top Skills

The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Core Knowledge

Types of Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Jobs

This career also goes by job titles like:

• Acoustical Tile Patternmaker
• All-Around Patternmaker
• Boilermaker Loftsman
• Chart Writer
• Computer Patternmaker
• Die Cast Die Maker
• Die Inspector
• Die Technician

How Many Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Are There?

There are roughly 737,941 patternmakers, metal and plastic working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +4.3% over the projection horizon.

How Much Do Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Make?

Statistic	Value
Annual median	$41,576
Hourly median	$19.99
10th percentile	$25,307
25th percentile	$33,442
75th percentile	$49,710
90th percentile	$57,844

Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.

How Much Do Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Make in Different U.S. States?

State	Annual median salary
Illinois	$80,190
Michigan	$73,730
Minnesota	$66,120
California	$65,570
Massachusetts	$63,480
Ohio	$63,420
Iowa	$63,300
Washington	$59,740
Indiana	$53,980
Texas	$52,960
Pennsylvania	$52,000
Alabama	$48,660
Wisconsin	$47,540
Tennessee	$38,680
North Carolina	$37,970

Pay by U.S. Region

Compensation for patternmakers, metal and plastic differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:

Region	Median annual wage	Share of U.S. jobs	Location quotient
Plains States	$64,710	6.2%	1.94
Far Western US	$59,740	3.1%	1.08
Great Lakes	$59,343	51.9%	4.46
Southwest	$52,960	4.7%	0.44
Middle Atlantic	$52,000	13.2%	2.77
Southeast	$44,410	20.9%	4.90

Where the Jobs Cluster

Metro area	State	Median annual wage	Employment
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	CA	$65,570
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	MI	$53,910
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	PA	$52,220	40
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	WI	$47,520

Industry Breakdown

The largest employers of patternmakers, metal and plastic work in these industries:

Industry	Employment	Median annual wage
Manufacturing	1,530	$54,650

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic work in the following industries:

Tech Stack

• Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
• Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
• Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)

What the Workplace Is Like

The on-the-job environment of patternmakers, metal and plastic is shaped by the following characteristics:

• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
• Time Pressure
• Contact With Others

Getting Started in This Career

Typical patternmakers, metal and plastic positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.

Similar Occupations

Similar Occupations

• Mechanical Drafters (Supplemental)
• Sheet Metal Workers (Supplemental)
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (Supplemental)
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (Primary-Long)
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
• Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
• Machinists (Supplemental)
• Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Short)

Degree Programs

Students preparing for patternmakers, metal and plastic commonly pursue programs in:

Precision Production

1 programs across 1 majors

• Precision Metal Working

References

Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
• BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
• O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.

SOC code: 51-4062.00 (Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic).