Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI is $44,220/year ($21.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $46,279 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,519/month, about 50.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $44K get you in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About model makers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood
Pay for model makers, metal and plastic in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,519/month, which is 51.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 95.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for model makers, metal and plastics.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for model makers, metal and plastics in metros near Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $81K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
Entry-level model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $93K | +47% | 260 |
| Florida | $80K | +26% | 50 |
| New York | $78K | +23% | 120 |
| New Jersey | $72K | +14% | 70 |
| Illinois | $69K | +9% | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $68K | +7% | 100 |
| Texas | $66K | +4% | 230 |
| Indiana | $63K | -1% | 50 |
| Iowa | $62K | -3% | 40 |
| Ohio | $61K | -4% | 60 |
| Michigan | $61K | -4% | 710 |
| Rhode Island | $56K | -12% | 40 |
| Utah | $54K | -15% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $53K | -16% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -28% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 15 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track model makers, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 51.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,519/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
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 $1,519/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $44K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — below the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI?
The median is $44,220 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,640, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $76,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,974/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,519/month, which eats 51.1% 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (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 $46,279 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.