Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 51-4062.00

Pay and outlook shown for

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

$36k10th$49kMedian$63k90th

New workers start near $36,000; experienced workers reach $63,320. About 40 people do this job in Texas.

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

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

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

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

Lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.

Set up and operate machine tools, such as milling machines, lathes, drill presses, and grinders, to machine castings or patterns.
Read and interpret blueprints or drawings of parts to be cast or patterns to be made, compute dimensions, and plan operational sequences.
Verify conformance of patterns or template dimensions to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, scales, and micrometers.
Assemble pattern sections, using hand tools, bolts, screws, rivets, glue, or welding equipment.
Repair and rework templates and patterns.
Clean and finish patterns or templates, using emery cloths, files, scrapers, and power grinders.

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

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

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