What Does it Take to Be a Wood Patternmaker?
Job Description: Plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.
Life As a Wood Patternmaker
- Finish completed products or models with shellac, lacquer, wax, or paint.
- Estimate costs for patternmaking jobs.
- Compute dimensions, areas, volumes, and weights.
- Select lumber to be used for patterns.
- Glue fillets along interior angles of patterns.
- Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, and screws.
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Things a Wood Patternmaker Should Know How to Do
Wood Patternmakers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Wood Patternmaker Jobs
- Wood Experimental Mechanic
- Apprentice Pattern Maker
- Wood Patternmaker
- Wood Patternmaker Apprentice
- Pattern Worker
Are There Job Opportunities for Wood Patternmakers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,800 jobs in the United States for Wood Patternmaker. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Wood Patternmaker. The BLS estimates 200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Wood Patternmaker are North Carolina, Michigan, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, or Michigan. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Wood Patternmaker Average Salary
The salary for Wood Patternmakers ranges between about $34,930 and $82,630 a year.

Wood Patternmakers who work in Ohio, Michigan, or North Carolina, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Wood Patternmakers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
California | $56,990 |
Michigan | $68,910 |
North Carolina | $53,910 |
Ohio | $73,670 |
What Tools & Technology do Wood Patternmakers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Wood Patternmakers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Delcam PowerMILL
- Mastercam
How do I Become a Wood Patternmaker?
What kind of Wood Patternmaker requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Wood Patternmaker?

Where do Wood Patternmakers Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sadie Colbert via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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