What Does a Metal Patternmaker Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a metal patternmaker do?

Patternmakers, metal and plastic, lay out, machine, fit and assemble castings and parts to make metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes or match plates. The median pay is $58,000 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Months to years of training, and employment is projected to grow -22.8% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$58,000
$27.89/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-22.8%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
100
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
BLS classification
Time to train
Months to years of training
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
1,500
Employment, 2025

What metal patternmakers do

Patternmakers make the shapes that create molds. They read drawings, add shrinkage and draft allowances, machine and fit metal or plastic patterns and core boxes, and repair patterns for foundries.

A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical. It is a very small occupation, and BLS projects a steep decline.

Typical duties

Read drawings
Add shrink and draft
Machine patterns
Make core boxes
Fit match plates
Repair patterns
Inspect

Work environment and schedule

Patternmakers work in pattern shops and foundries.

Schedule: Full-time daytime hours.

A day in the life

7:00 AMReview a casting drawing.
8:00 AMCalculate shrinkage.
9:00 AMMachine a pattern half.
11:00 AMAdd draft.

See a full day in the life of a metal patternmaker →

Metal Patternmaker salary

Half of metal patternmakers earned more than $58,000 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $42,460 for the lowest 10% to $82,590 for the top 10%.

$42,46010th$58,000Median$82,59090th

Full metal patternmaker pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a metal patternmaker

Finish high school
Learn machining
Join a pattern shop
Learn foundry rules
Advance

A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a metal patternmaker →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Pattern layout
Shrink and draft
Machining
CAD
Core box building

People skills

Precision
Patience
Problem-solving
Focus

All metal patternmaker skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Rare craft skill
Precision work
Daytime hours
Creative problem-solving

Cons

Steep decline
Very few openings
Shrinking foundry industry
3D printing competition

Certifications and licenses

AFS training: American Foundry Society.
Machining certificate: Helpful.
CAD certificate: Helpful.
Apprenticeship: Pattern shops.

Career path

Apprentice: Entry.
Patternmaker: Make patterns.
Senior Patternmaker: Complex patterns.
Pattern Shop Lead: Lead.

Learn the job before day one

Our Metal Patternmaker training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as add shrink and draft to a pattern and choose a parting line, safety and how to land your first job.

View Metal Patternmaker training Is this career right for me?

Wood Patternmaker

Build wooden patterns that foundries use to make casting molds.

$49,630
Months to years of training

Foundry Moldmaker

Build sand molds and cores that shape metal castings.

$48,110
A few months on the job

Metal Model Maker

Build precise metal and plastic prototypes from engineering drawings.

$63,340
Years of machining experience

CNC Machinist

Set up and run computer-controlled machines that cut precision metal parts.

$58,750
6–24 months

Compare: Metal Patternmaker vs. Wood Patternmaker · Metal Patternmaker vs. Foundry Moldmaker · Metal Patternmaker vs. Metal Model Maker · Metal Patternmaker vs. CNC Machinist

Metal Patternmaker FAQ

Is patternmaking still a job?

Yes, but very small and declining.

Do I need a degree?

No.

What’s changing?

3D printing is replacing some patterns.

How much does a metal patternmaker make?

The median annual wage for metal patternmakers was $58,000 ($27.89 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $42,460 and the highest 10% earned more than $82,590.

How long does it take to become a metal patternmaker?

Most people need about Months to years of training of training. A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.

Do you need a degree to be a metal patternmaker?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-4062 (Patternmakers, metal and plastic).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Patternmakers, metal and plastic (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Metal Patternmaker