Model Makers, Wood
ManufacturingO*NET 51-7031.00United States
Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.
- Median annual earnings
- $50,331
- Projected change
- −8.7%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 790 jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
50.5% of the workforce
Growing to 721 by 2035
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ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What model makers, wood do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
- Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.
- 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.
- 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.
- Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.
- Mark identifying information on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods and details.
- 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.
- Maintain pattern records for reference.
- Build jigs that can be used as guides for assembling oversized or special types of box shooks.
- Issue patterns to designated machine operators.
- Fabricate work aids such as scrapers or templates.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $17,446
- 25th percentile
- $27,557
- 50th percentile
- $50,331
- 75th percentile
- $86,098
- 90th percentile
- $140,931
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $50,331 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
−8.7%projected to decline
2025790 jobs
2035 projected721 jobs
69 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 50.5%
- Certificate
- 30.8%
- Bachelor's degree
- 14.3%
- Some college
- 4.3%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Construction Workers30 postings
- 02Remodeling Consultants10 postings
- 03Remodeling Specialists4 postings
- 04Skilled Trades Workers3 postings
- 05Background Checking Business Development Managers1 postings
- 06Commercial Construction Managers1 postings
- 07Construction Laborers1 postings
- 08Experienced Hire Recruiters1 postings
- 09Finish Carpenters1 postings
- 10Framing Carpenters1 postings
- 11General Labor/Production Workers1 postings
- 12Kitchen and Bathroom Designers1 postings
- 13Remodelers1 postings
- 14Skilled Laborers1 postings
Top employers
- 01Aerotek2 postings
- 02LockedN Designs2 postings
- 03Louisville Home Improvement2 postings
- 04Maze Construction2 postings
- 05State of Florida2 postings
- 06Aam Construction And Remodeling1 postings
- 07Banner Construction1 postings
- 08Christian1 postings
- 09Coronado Contracting Corp1 postings
- 10Cutting Edge Innovative1 postings
- 11Fixture Displays1 postings
- 12Gale Force Construction1 postings
- 13Hrs Construction Limited1 postings
- 14Integra Homes1 postings
- 15J&K Construction1 postings
- 16Noble Modern Builders1 postings
- 17Project Junkeez1 postings
- 18Rj Construction1 postings
- 19SAS Retail Services1 postings
- 20Sharper Image Pools1 postings
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