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

Wood Patternmaker

Also called: Pattern Maker · Foundry Pattern Woodworker · Wood Pattern Builder · Pattern Shop Woodworker

What wood patternmakers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated October 18, 2026By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team

What does a wood patternmaker do?

Patternmakers, wood, plan, lay out and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings. The median pay is $49,630 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Months to years of training, and employment is projected to grow -2.0% from 2025–35.

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

Median pay
$49,630
$23.86/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-2.0%
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
600
Employment, 2025

What wood patternmakers do

Wood patternmakers create the shapes that form foundry molds. They read casting drawings, add shrink and draft, cut, glue and shape wood patterns and core boxes, and seal them for use in sand molding.

A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical. It is among the smallest occupations BLS tracks.

Typical duties

Read drawings
Add shrink and draft
Cut and shape wood
Build core boxes
Seal patterns
Repair patterns
Inspect

Work environment and schedule

Patternmakers work in pattern shops.

Schedule: Full-time daytime hours.

A day in the life

7:00 AMReview drawings.
8:00 AMLay out with a shrink rule.
9:00 AMCut pieces.
11:00 AMGlue up blocks.

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

Wood Patternmaker salary

Half of wood patternmakers earned more than $49,630 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $37,600 for the lowest 10% to $83,780 for the top 10%.

$37,60010th$49,630Median$83,78090th

Full wood patternmaker pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a wood patternmaker

Learn woodworking
Join a pattern shop
Learn foundry rules
Build patterns
Advance

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

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

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Woodworking
Pattern layout
Shrink and draft
Lathe turning
Core boxes

People skills

Precision
Patience
Problem-solving
Focus

All wood patternmaker skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Rare craft
Precision woodworking
Daytime hours
Problem-solving

Cons

Tiny field
Dust
Few openings
Being replaced by 3D printing

Certifications and licenses

Woodworking certificate: Trade school.
AFS training: Foundry.
CAD certificate: Helpful.
Shop safety training: Required.

Career path

Apprentice: Entry.
Patternmaker: Build.
Senior Patternmaker: Complex patterns.
Shop Lead: Lead.

Learn the job before day one

Our Wood Patternmaker training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as lay out a pattern with a shrink rule and glue up a pattern block, safety and how to land your first job.

View Wood Patternmaker training Is this career right for me?

Metal Patternmaker

Make the patterns foundries use to form casting molds.

$58,000
Months to years of training

Wood Model Maker

Build precise wood models and prototypes for designers and engineers.

$56,550
Months to years of practice

Cabinetmaker

Build cabinets, furniture and custom woodwork.

$46,680
Months to years of training

Foundry Moldmaker

Build sand molds and cores that shape metal castings.

$48,110
A few months on the job

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

Wood Patternmaker FAQ

Is wood patternmaking still a job?

Yes, but it is tiny.

Do I need a degree?

No.

Is it changing?

3D printing and CNC are replacing some work.

How much does a wood patternmaker make?

The median annual wage for wood patternmakers was $49,630 ($23.86 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $37,600 and the highest 10% earned more than $83,780.

How long does it take to become a wood 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 wood 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 51-7032 (Patternmakers, wood).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Patternmakers, wood (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.