Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in Florida is $79,930/year ($38.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $81,081 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Florida. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $80K get you in Florida?
About model makers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Florida
Florida sits well above the national pay line for model makers, metal and plastic, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,658/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track model makers, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 30.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for model makers, metal and plastics in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new model makers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,318/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 72% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is model makers, metal and plastic a high-paying job in Florida?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $80K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
Florida pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in Florida?
The median is $79,930 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,640, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $106,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,385/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 30.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a model makers, metal and plastic salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median model makers, metal and plastic salary is worth about $81,081 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do model makers, metal and plastics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.