Model Makers, Wood earn a median of $56,550 per year ($27.19/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 3.3% through 2035, with about 100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-7031
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Model Maker, Wood in four numbers
- Median pay
- $56,550a year, or $27.19/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $98K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 100700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025700
- Projected 2035700
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 700 Projected 2035 700 - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school30.2%
- High school20.3%
- Certificate30.8%
- Some college4.3%
- Bachelor's14.3%
Highest education held by model makers, wood Segment Value Less than high school 30.2% High school 20.3% Certificate 30.8% Some college 4.3% Bachelor's 14.3%
Also advertised as: Builder, Craftsman, Jig Maker, Model Builder, Model Maker, Product Development Carpenter.
Pay
How much do Model Makers, Wood make?
Every model maker, wood in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$56,550
Middle half earn $37,660 to $87,150
- 10th
- $34,800
- 25th
- $37,660
- 75th
- $87,150
- 90th
- $98,050
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,800 |
| 25th | $37,660 |
| Median | $56,550 |
| 75th | $87,150 |
| 90th | $98,050 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $56,550
- Median hourly wage
- $27.19/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $63,670
- People employed
- 280
Versus all US occupations
At $56,550, Model Makers, Wood earn 11% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $5,570 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 18% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $98,050 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,800, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 28% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Ohio pays the most at $35,900, and still leads at $38,696 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Model Makers, Wood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Ohio | $35,900 | $38,696 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Model Maker, Wood a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Makers, Wood | −3.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Model Makers, Wood to change -3.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 14.3% of the 700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Model Maker, Wood
- 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)
Some 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 model makers, wood.
- Post-Secondary Certificate30.8%
- Less than a High School Diploma30.2%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)20.3%
- Bachelor's Degree14.3%
- Some College Courses4.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 30.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 30.2% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 20.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 14.3% |
| Some College Courses | 4.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Model Maker, Wood do?
Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and planers to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.
- 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.
- Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.
- Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
- Fabricate work aids such as scrapers or templates.
- Construct wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools.
- Plan, lay out, and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products.
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 dayAlmost never works outdoors.
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 dayDealing 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
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Active Listening2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Writing2.6
- Mathematics2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Mathematics | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Operations Analysis2.9
- Operation and Control2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Coordination2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Operations Analysis | 2.9 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Coordination | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD 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 Model Maker, Wood?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Model Maker, Wood |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| 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.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.0
- Artistic3.8
- Investigative2.6
- Enterprising1.6
- Social1.4
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 Model Maker, Wood
O*NET related occupations
- Production
- Production
- Production
- Production
- Production
- Construction and Extraction
More production careers
Median annual pay, with model makers, wood highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Model Maker, Wood$56,550
- 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 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Model Maker, Wood | $56,550 |
| 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 Model Maker, Wood appears on
Questions
Model Maker, Wood: frequently asked questions
How much do Model Makers, Wood make?
Model Makers, Wood earn a median of $56,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 11% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $27.19/hr. The middle half earn between $37,660 and $87,150. The top 10% earn $98,050 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Model Maker, Wood?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Model Makers, Wood. 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, 30.8% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Model Maker, Wood a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 0 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Model Maker, Wood do?
Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. A core O*NET task: set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and planers to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Presentation software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Model Makers, Wood the most?
The highest state medians for Model Makers, Wood are Ohio ($35,900) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Model Maker, Wood?
O*NET scores Model Makers, Wood highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Artistic 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.