Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $45,760/year ($22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.16), that's roughly $46,618 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,750/month, about 55.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Raleigh-Cary?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Raleigh-Cary’s Regional Price Parity (98.16). 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 Raleigh-Cary
Pay for model makers, metal and plastic in Raleigh-Cary runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,750/month, which is 57.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.16) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Raleigh-Cary, NC
Entry-level model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $21K 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
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 Raleigh-Cary numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Raleigh-Cary?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 57.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,750/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 Raleigh-Cary?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new model makers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,383/month. At HUD’s $1,750/month FMR, rent would take 73% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $46K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Raleigh-Cary compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
Raleigh-Cary pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median is $45,760 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,710, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $60,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Raleigh-Cary?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,750/month, which eats 57.2% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Raleigh-Cary has a Regional Price Parity of 98.16 (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 $46,618 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.