Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

Manufacturing · Production

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 51-4061.00

Pay and outlook shown for

median pay per year, Texas (no San Antonio figure is published for this career)

$39k10th$66kMedian$103k90th

New workers start near $38,630; experienced workers reach $102,990. About 230 people do this job in Texas.

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

Employment change: -18%; nationwide
Openings a year: 300; nationwide, from growth and people leaving
Employed in 2024: 3,200; nationwide

Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

No program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

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Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

Operation and Control3.3
Operations Monitoring3.1
Quality Control Analysis3.1
Monitoring3.0
Troubleshooting3.1
Critical Thinking3.0
Time Management3.0
Active Listening2.9

What the work is

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.

Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences.
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models.
Inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers.
Cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets.
Lay out and mark reference points and dimensions on materials, using measuring instruments and drawing or scribing tools.
Drill, countersink, and ream holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools.

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

High school or less40%
Certificate39%
Associate degree21%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

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