Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in New Jersey is $72,340/year ($34.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $72,821 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 43.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in New Jersey?
About model makers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for model makers, metal and plastic, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 43.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $47K 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 New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 43.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new model makers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,519/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $72K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
New Jersey pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in New Jersey?
The median is $72,340 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,990, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $89,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,731/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 43.7% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $72,821 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.