Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
Also called: CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist), Model Builder, Model Maker, Molding Technician (Molding Tech)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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 3 of its 16 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 17.3% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 43% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $92,960 | $73,530 to $107,000 | 260 |
| Florida | $79,930 | $62,730 to $90,070 | 50 |
| Illinois | $68,890 | $45,560 to $68,890 | not published |
| Indiana | $62,620 | $51,840 to $66,910 | 50 |
| Iowa | $61,550 | $51,140 to $65,210 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $67,830 | $59,410 to $94,770 | 100 |
| Michigan | $60,540 | $43,250 to $97,740 | 710 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | $44,500 to $89,330 | 70 |
| New York | $77,710 | $72,130 to $90,800 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $45,760 | $40,840 to $56,300 | not published |
| Ohio | $60,880 | $51,580 to $61,840 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,990 | $52,970 to $59,670 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $55,560 | $34,450 to $70,610 | 40 |
| Texas | $65,920 | $47,260 to $98,220 | 230 |
| Utah | $53,650 | $53,650 to $65,930 | 60 |
Nationally: $63,340. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 3 of its 16 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences. | Not published |
| Not much | Rework or alter component model or parts as required to ensure that products meet standards. | Not published |
| AI + software | Devise and construct tools, dies, molds, jigs, and fixtures, or modify existing tools and equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models. | Not published |
| Not much | Drill, countersink, and ream holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools. | Not published |
See all 16 tasks
| Not much | Grind, file, and sand parts to finished dimensions. | Not published |
| Not much | Cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets. | Not published |
| Not much | Align, fit, and join parts, using bolts and screws or by welding or gluing. | Not published |
| Not much | Consult and confer with engineering personnel to discuss developmental problems and to recommend product modifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Record specifications, production operations, and final dimensions of models for use in establishing operating standards and procedures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Program computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts. | Not published |
| Not much | Lay out and mark reference points and dimensions on materials, using measuring instruments and drawing or scribing tools. | Not published |
| AI + software | Use computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software or hardware to fabricate model parts. | Not published |
| Not much | Assemble mechanical, electrical, and electronic components into models or prototypes, using hand tools, power tools, and fabricating machines. | Not published |
| Not much | Wire and solder electrical and electronic connections and components. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 16 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 16 tasks fall under 17 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #31 Program computer systems or production equipment
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble products or work aids | |||
| Program computer systems or production equipment | |||
| Position materials or components for assembly | |||
| Operate cutting or grinding equipment | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Coordinate with others to resolve problems | |||
| Repair workpieces or products | |||
| Inspect completed work or finished products |
Show all 17 activities
| Shape materials to create products | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Cut materials | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment | |||
| Design industrial systems or equipment | |||
| Drill holes in earth or materials | |||
| Join parts using soldering, welding, or brazing techniques | |||
| Operate industrial processing or production equipment |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for model makers, metal and plastic specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 559 moves out
- 1 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 16%
- 2 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers High -3.7% 8%
- 3 Designers, All Other High +1.2% 5%
- 4 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 5%
- 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 947 moves in
- 1 Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Moderate +0.6% 13%
- 2 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 3 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 5%
- 4 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 5%
- 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 38% postsecondary certificate
- 15% some college
- 5% associate's
- 1% post-master's certificate
- 41% not published
O*NET marks 41% of the answers as too uncertain to publish, so the parts shown don't add up to 100%.
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 18 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 14% less than high school
- 52% high school
- 21% some college
- 8% associate's
- 4% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers” · 3,391 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other metal workers and plastic workers”
1 program: Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 13 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Model Makers, Metal and Plastic” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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