Patternmakers, Wood: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Patternmakers, Wood fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Patternmakers, Wood earn a median salary of $49,630 per year, ranking in the top 68% of all U.S. occupations. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do patternmakers, wood earn?

The median annual wage for patternmakers, wood is $49,630. That puts patternmakers, wood at #560 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is patternmakers, wood a growing career?

BLS does not publish a 2025–2035 projection for patternmakers, wood. Cross-check the broader production category for directional guidance.

What do patternmakers, wood do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working patternmakers, wood, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
2. 2.Collect and store patterns and lumber.
3. 3.Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.
4. 4.Finish completed products or models with shellac, lacquer, wax, or paint.
5. 5.Mark identifying information such as colors or codes on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods.
6. 6.Repair broken or damaged patterns.
7. 7.Construct wooden models, templates, full scale mock-ups, jigs, or molds for shaping parts of products.
8. 8.Estimate costs for patternmaking jobs.

Top skills for patternmakers, wood

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become patternmakers, wood?

Patternmakers, Wood typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Dental Laboratory Technicians
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• Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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• Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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• Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  $48,990 median
• Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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• Prepress Technicians and Workers
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Common questions parents ask about patternmakers, wood