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Also called appliances sample maker, auto manufacturing model maker, automotive manufacturing model maker and clock and watch model maker.
$63,340
Median pay a year
2,610
People do this work
6
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Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
An example
A Metal and Plastic Model Maker resume, filled in
Every line below comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Metal and Plastic Model Maker
Summary
Model maker fabricating prototypes and models of metal or plastic objects using lathes, CNC machines, and precision measuring instruments, while collaborating with engineering personnel to address developmental challenges
Experience
Metal and Plastic Model Maker
Where you worked
Month Year to Month Year
Set up and operated machines, such as lathes, drill presses, and bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models
Programmed computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts
Inspected and tested products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments
Cut, shaped, and formed metal parts, using lathes, power saws, and shears
Assembled mechanical, electrical, and electronic components into models or prototypes, using hand tools and power tools
Consulted and conferred with engineering personnel to discuss developmental problems and recommend product modifications
Recorded specifications, production operations, and final dimensions of models for use in establishing operating standards
Skills
Core Skills
Assembling metal and plastic parts, Programming equipment, Reviewing blueprints and instructions, Reading work orders or instructions, Soldering parts or workpieces, Aligning workpieces, Drawing guide lines, Inspecting composite products
Hands-On Work
Drilling materials, Building production molds
Education
Certificate Your training program, Year
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Studied blueprints to determine material dimensionsSet up and operated machines for fabricationProgrammed CNC machines to fabricate model partsInspected products for conformance to specificationsCut and shaped metal parts using various toolsReworked components to ensure product standards
becomes
On your resume
Studied blueprints to determine material dimensions for model parts
Programmed CNC machines to fabricate components with precision
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Add what improved in the models from your blueprint study
The line
Studied blueprints to determine material dimensions for model parts, resulting in models that fit together more accurately
Add what improved in the models from your blueprint study
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Models fit together more accuratelyReduced errors in final assemblyImproved overall product quality
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Mention how this affected production speed or quality
The line
Programmed CNC machines to fabricate components with precision
Mention how this affected production speed or quality
Pick one that fits
Made production faster and more efficientEnhanced the quality of finished partsReduced waste during fabrication
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In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
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What it is made of
Skills for a Metal and Plastic Model Maker resume
What this work is made of. Rung offers these and keeps the ones you claim.
What are you good at?
Assembling metal and plastic parts
Programming equipment
Reviewing blueprints and instructions
Reading work orders or instructions
Inspecting composite products
Drilling materials
Soldering parts or workpieces
Building production molds
Aligning workpieces
Drawing guide lines
Assembling fixtures
Shaping metal workpieces
The work itself
What a Metal and Plastic Model Maker does
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Includes template makers.
What it pays
How much does a Metal and Plastic Model Maker make?
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
25th percentile
$47,360
Median
$63,340
75th percentile
$86,740
About 2,610 people do this work in the United States.
What it pays in each state
State
25th percentile
Median
75th percentile
CA
$73,530
$92,960
$107,000
FL
$62,730
$79,930
$90,070
IA
$51,140
$61,550
$65,210
IL
$45,560
$68,890
$68,890
IN
$51,840
$62,620
$66,910
MA
$59,410
$67,830
$94,770
MI
$43,250
$60,540
$97,740
NC
$40,840
$45,760
$56,300
NJ
$44,500
$72,340
$89,330
NY
$72,130
$77,710
$90,800
OH
$51,580
$60,880
$61,840
PA
$52,970
$52,990
$59,670
RI
$34,450
$55,560
$70,610
TX
$47,260
$65,920
$98,220
UT
$53,650
$53,650
$65,930
Other names
Other names for this job
appliances sample maker, auto manufacturing model maker, automotive manufacturing model maker, clock and watch model maker, display maker, engineering model maker, firearms model maker, fluorescent lighting model maker, mandrel maker, metal mockup maker, metal model maker, mockup maker.
More names for this work
model maker, model maker machinist, prototype model maker, scale model maker, template maker, tool maker, model makers metal and plastic, aircraft mockup builder, cnc machinist, cnc operator, cnc programmer, computer numerical control machinist, computer numerical control operator, computer numerical control programmer, dioramist, fabricator, form builder, injection mold tech, injection mold technician, injection mold tooling tech, injection mold tooling technician, jig and fixture builder, metal model builder, mockup builder, model builder, model tech, model technician, modeler, mold tooling tech, mold tooling technician, molding tech, molding technician, pattern finisher, plastic jig and fixture builder, plastic modeler, process mold tech, process mold technician, product builder, prototype fabricator, prototype special build, prototyper, tool builder, tooling tech, tooling technician, welding prototype operator.
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This page is about the occupation Model Makers, Metal and Plastic. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.