Patternmakers, Wood: Job Description
Plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.
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The Daily Work of Patternmakers, Wood Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of patternmakers, wood include:
- Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications 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, and screws.
- Lay out patterns on wood stock and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products, based on blueprint specifications and sketches, and using marking and measuring devices.
- Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
- Divide patterns into sections according to shapes of castings to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
- Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.
- Correct patterns to compensate for defects in castings.
- Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and lathes to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful patternmakers, wood draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Patternmakers, Wood Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Forms Builder
- Mold Forms Builder
- Mold Maker
- Pattern Engineer
- Pattern Maker
- Pattern Worker
- Patternmaker
- Production Patternmaker
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 849,924 patternmakers, wood working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +14.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Patternmakers, Wood Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $69,107 |
| Hourly median | $33.22 |
| 10th percentile | $40,268 |
| 25th percentile | $54,687 |
| 75th percentile | $83,526 |
| 90th percentile | $97,946 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Patternmakers, Wood Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $54,170 |
| Ohio | $43,610 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for patternmakers, wood vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $54,170 | 100.0% | 7.07 |
Industry Breakdown
Most patternmakers, wood work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 120 | $52,800 |
Patternmakers, Wood work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for patternmakers, wood reflects the following characteristics:
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Education and Training
Typical patternmakers, wood positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Boilermakers (Supplemental)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Sheet Metal Workers (Primary-Long)
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (Supplemental)
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (Primary-Short)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Machinists (Supplemental)
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future patternmakers, wood often complete programs in:
Precision Production
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood).
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