Model Makers, Wood
Also called: Craftsman, Model Maker, Sample Builder, Sample MakerConstruct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 4 of its 14 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 3.3% 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, 4.7% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other woodworkers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 75% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $35,900 | $34,800 to $36,660 | not published |
Nationally: $56,550. 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 4 of its 14 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups. | Not published |
| Not much | Verify dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices. | Not published |
| Not much | Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners. | Not published |
| Not much | Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Construct wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools. | Not published |
See all 14 tasks
| Not much | Plan, lay out, and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products. | Not published |
| AI + software | Mark identifying information on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods and details. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors. | Not published |
| Not much | Fabricate work aids such as scrapers or templates. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain pattern records for reference. | Not published |
| Not much | Issue patterns to designated machine operators. | Not published |
| Not much | Build jigs that can be used as guides for assembling oversized or special types of box shooks. | Not published |
| Not much | Finish patterns or models with protective or decorative coatings such as shellac, lacquer, or wax. | 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 14 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 14 tasks fall under 15 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
- #38 Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
| 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 | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Mark materials or objects for identification | |||
| Apply protective solutions or coatings |
Show all 15 activities
| Shape materials to create products | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Cut materials | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Position materials or components for assembly | |||
| Distribute materials, supplies, or resources | |||
| Operate cutting or grinding 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, wood 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 in from
of 48 moves in
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
- 30% less than high school
- 20% high school
- 31% postsecondary certificate
- 4% some college
- 14% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 14 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 18% less than high school
- 36% high school
- 22% some college
- 8% associate's
- 13% bachelor's
- 3% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other woodworkers” · 339 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 woodworkers”
2 programs: Cabinetmaking and Millwork and Wooden Boatbuilding Technology/Technician.
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 4 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Model Makers, Wood” 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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