Model makers, wood salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $56,550 | $27.19 |
| Mean (average) | $63,670 | $30.61 |
| 90th percentile | $98,050 | $47.14 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Model makers, wood pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 1 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $35,900 | $34,800 | $37,330 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Job outlook for model makers, wood
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 61.7%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for model makers, wood
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Cabinetmaking and Millwork CIP 48.0703
- Wooden Boatbuilding Technology/Technician CIP 48.0704
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Siemens NX
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Operations Analysis, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Builder, Craftsman, Jig Maker, Model Builder, Model Maker, Product Development Carpenter, Sample Builder, Sample Maker, Sample Worker, Wood Carver.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do model makers, wood make?
The national median annual wage for model makers, wood was $56,550 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,800 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $98,050. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do model makers, wood need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is model makers, wood a growing career?
BLS projects employment of model makers, wood to change -3.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay model makers, wood the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Ohio ($35,900). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.