Model Makers (Metal and Plastic) build operation and control, operations monitoring and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Industrial Machinery Mechanics (80%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 80% | $64,520 | +2% | None |
| 2 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 80% | $53,710 | −15% | None |
| 3 | Model Makers, Wood | 78% | $56,550 | −11% | None |
| 4 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 75% | $50,690 | −20% | None |
| 5 | Maintenance Workers, Machinery | 73% | $60,850 | −4% | None |
| 6 | Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters | 72% | $62,620 | −1% | None |
| 7 | Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | 72% | $57,550 | −9% | None |
| 8 | Boilermakers | 72% | $76,410 | +21% | None |
| 9 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | 72% | $65,510 | +3% | None |
| 10 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 71% | $74,340 | +17% | None |
Compared with Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, median $63,340. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as model makers (metal and plastic) (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
80% skill match · $64,520 · +2% pay
Installation · Equipment Maintenance · Repairing
80% skill match · $53,710 · −15% pay
Installation · Service Orientation · Social Perceptiveness
78% skill match · $56,550 · −11% pay
Service Orientation · Operations Analysis · Social Perceptiveness
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Industrial Machinery Mechanics (80% skill match, median $64,520), Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (80% skill match, median $53,710) and Model Makers, Wood (78% skill match, median $56,550), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 10 pay more than model makers (metal and plastic) at the median. The biggest increases: Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (+31%, $82,890), Boilermakers (+21%, $76,410) and Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (+17%, $74,340).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.