Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in Rhode Island is $55,560/year ($26.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $54,594 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 42.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $56K get you in Rhode Island?
About model makers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Pay for model makers, metal and plastic in Rhode Island runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,544/month, which is 41.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) 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, Rhode Island
Entry-level model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $59K | +5% | 60 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 41.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/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 Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new model makers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,066/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 75% 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 Rhode Island?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $56K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
Rhode Island pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in Rhode Island?
The median is $55,560 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,440, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $78,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,748/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 41.2% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median model makers, metal and plastic salary is worth about $54,594 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.