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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Model Makers, Wood

Part of Manufacturing, in the Production pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 51-7031.00

What the work is

Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.

On a typical day

  • Verify dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices.
  • Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
  • 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.
  • Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.
  • Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
  • Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.

What it pays

$56,550
Median pay per year, United States (no San Antonio figure published)
New workers start near $34,800
Experienced workers reach $98,050
  1. $35k10th
  2. $38k25th
  3. $57kMedian
  4. $87k75th
  5. $98k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $34,800, 25th $37,660, Median $56,550, 75th $87,150, 90th $98,050

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

-5%

U.S. employment change

100

openings a year nationwide, from growth and people leaving

900

employed nationwide in 2024

Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Monitoring3.0
  2. Operations Monitoring3.0
  3. Critical Thinking3.0
  4. Reading Comprehension2.9
  5. Speaking2.9
  6. Judgment and Decision Making2.8
  7. Time Management2.8
  8. Operation and Control3.0

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less51%
  2. Certificate31%
  3. Some college4%
  4. Bachelor's degree14%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

No Alamo program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

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  1. $66kTexas median
  2. $50kU.S. median
  3. $49kTexas median