Production
Model Makers, Wood
Also called: Builder, Craftsman, Jig Maker, Model Builder
US median pay
$56,550
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-3.3%
declining
Openings a year (US)
100
700 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.
What they do day to day
- Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
- Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.
- Verify dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices.
- Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
- Plan, lay out, and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products.
- Construct wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools.
- Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.
- Mark identifying information on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods and details.
- 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.
- Maintain pattern records for reference.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.9/5
- Operations Analysis2.9/5
- Operation and Control2.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
- Coordination2.8/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Design3.8/5
- Building and Construction3.6/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
- Engineering and Technology3.4/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-secondary certificate31%
- Less than high school30%
- High school diploma20%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.