Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $63,870 per year ($30.71/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 3.4% through 2035, with about 500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-4192
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic in four numbers
- Median pay
- $63,870a year, or $30.71/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $94K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.4%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5006,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20256.2K
- Projected 20355.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 6.2K Projected 2035 5.9K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school4.9%
- High school60%
- Certificate11.6%
- Some college14.5%
- Associate's9%
Highest education held by layout workers, metal and plastic Segment Value Less than high school 4.9% High school 60% Certificate 11.6% Some college 14.5% Associate's 9%
Also advertised as: Development Mechanic, Layout Fabricator, Layout Fitter, Layout Inspector, Layout Man, Layout Mechanic.
Pay
How much do Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic make?
Every layout worker, metal and plastic in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$63,870
Middle half earn $50,910 to $79,470
- 10th
- $39,980
- 25th
- $50,910
- 75th
- $79,470
- 90th
- $93,860
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,980 |
| 25th | $50,910 |
| Median | $63,870 |
| 75th | $79,470 |
| 90th | $93,860 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $63,870
- Median hourly wage
- $30.71/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $66,520
- People employed
- 5,970
Versus all US occupations
At $63,870, Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic earn 25% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,890 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 33% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $93,860 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,980, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 39% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($87,570), but once local prices are taken into account Kansas leads at $87,978 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $87,570 | $79,645 | 140 |
| 2Washington | $85,300 | $79,710 | 500 |
| 3Kansas | $79,240 | $87,978 | 610 |
| 4Oregon | $75,020 | $72,581 | N/A |
| 5Maine | $74,530 | $76,795 | 180 |
| 6California | $74,490 | $67,278 | 480 |
| 7Virginia | $70,260 | $69,493 | 1,080 |
| 8Massachusetts | $63,880 | $60,403 | 90 |
| 9New York | $62,700 | $58,098 | 70 |
| 10Michigan | $61,550 | $63,970 | 160 |
Job outlook
Is Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | −3.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic to change -3.4% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 500 openings are projected each year, 8.1% of the 6,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as layout workers, metal and plastic.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)60%
- Some College Courses14.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate11.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree9%
- Less than a High School Diploma4.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 60% |
| Some College Courses | 14.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 11.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic do?
Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. Includes shipfitters.
Day-to-day tasks
- Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly.
- Fit and align fabricated parts to be welded or assembled.
- Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills.
- Lift and position workpieces in relation to surface plates, manually or with hoists, and using parallel blocks and angle plates.
- Plan locations and sequences of cutting, drilling, bending, rolling, punching, and welding operations, using compasses, protractors, dividers, and rules.
- Lay out and fabricate metal structural parts such as plates, bulkheads, and frames.
- Plan and develop layouts from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metals.
- Locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Mathematics3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Active Listening2.9
- Speaking2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Writing2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Operation and Control2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Equipment Selection2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Equipment Selection | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Inventory management software
- Procedure management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.5
- Conventional3.9
- Artistic2.9
- Investigative2.8
- Social1.0
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic
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More production careers
Median annual pay, with layout workers, metal and plastic highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic$63,870
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic | $63,870 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic appears on
Questions
Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic: frequently asked questions
How much do Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic make?
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $63,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $30.71/hr. The middle half earn between $50,910 and $79,470. The top 10% earn $93,860 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 60.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.4% over 2025–2035, a loss of 200 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic do?
Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. A core O*NET task: compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
Which states pay Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic the most?
The highest state medians for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic are Hawaii ($87,570), Washington ($85,300), Kansas ($79,240) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Kansas moves to the top at $87,978.
What personality type suits a Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic?
O*NET scores Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.