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Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index

A factual, source-backed comparison of Model Makers, Metal and Plastic and Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
Median pay · BLS OEWS
$62,700
$54,540
Employment · BLS OEWS
3,230
1,570
AI exposure (percentile) · task overlap, not automation
17th pct
47th pct

At a glance

Dimension Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
Median pay $62,700 $54,540
Employment 3,230 1,570
Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection Declining (-18.2%) Declining (-24.4%)
Annual openings · BLS projection 300 100
Typical education · O*NET Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
AI exposure · published exposure studies Low · 17th pct Moderate · 47th pct
Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk 34th pct · 20% of tasks 34th pct · 20% of tasks
Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index — —
Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman No No

Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.

Skills

Shared: Mechanical, Mathematics, Near Vision, Production and Processing, Design, Engineering and Technology, Visualization, Operation and Control, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Manual Dexterity, Finger Dexterity, Control Precision, Operations Monitoring, Written Comprehension, Information Ordering, Oral Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity, Deductive Reasoning, Critical Thinking, Quality Control Analysis, Selective Attention, Multilimb Coordination, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Oral Expression, Written Expression, Inductive Reasoning, Category Flexibility, Perceptual Speed, Far Vision, Reading Comprehension.

Specific to Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

  • Reaction Time
  • Equipment Selection
  • Troubleshooting
  • Rate Control
  • Static Strength
  • Trunk Strength
  • Auditory Attention
  • Computers and Electronics

Specific to Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Speech Recognition
  • Speech Clarity
  • Fluency of Ideas
  • Visual Color Discrimination
  • Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).

Tools & technology

Shared: Spreadsheet software , Computer aided manufacturing CAM software , Computer aided design CAD software .

Specific to Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

Specific to Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Full profiles

This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic or Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.

More comparisons

Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

Cite this page
Plain

Singulariki. "Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/model-makers-metal-and-plastic-vs-patternmakers-metal-and-plastic

APA

Singulariki. (2026). Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/model-makers-metal-and-plastic-vs-patternmakers-metal-and-plastic

BibTeX 
@misc{singulariki-model-makers-metal-and-plastic-vs-patternmakers-metal-and-plastic,
  title  = {Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/compare/model-makers-metal-and-plastic-vs-patternmakers-metal-and-plastic}
}

Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.