Model makers, wood
Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.
Model makers, wood construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers. The role reports a median annual salary of $51,850 in the US and is projected to decline by 4% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.45 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £33,078 a year for Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5442). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Model makers, wood, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Mechanical
- English Language
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Model makers, wood do?
Construct full-size and scale wooden precision models of products. Includes wood jig builders and loft workers.
How much does Model makers, wood earn?
The median annual salary for Model makers, wood in the US is $51,850.
What is the job outlook for Model makers, wood?
The role is projected to decline by 4% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 900 workers.
How do I become model makers, wood?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Model makers, wood need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Model makers, wood?
Our AI-durability model gives Model makers, wood a score of 0.45 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Model makers, wood has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.