Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in Pennsylvania is $52,990/year ($25.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $55,797 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 38.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Pennsylvania. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $53K get you in Pennsylvania?
About model makers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for model makers, metal and plastic in Pennsylvania runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 37.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for model makers, metal and plastics.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $74K 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 Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 37.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new model makers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,260/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $53K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
Pennsylvania pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $52,990 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,670, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $112,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,583/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 37.7% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $55,797 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.