Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in Utah is $53,650/year ($25.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $54,445 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,350/month, about 38.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Utah. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $54K get you in Utah?
About model makers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Utah
Pay for model makers, metal and plastic in Utah runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,350/month, which is 38% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) 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, Utah
Entry-level model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $55K 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 Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 38% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/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 Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new model makers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,386/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $54K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
Utah pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in Utah?
The median is $53,650 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,760, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $94,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,554/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 38% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $54,445 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.