Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a patternmakers, metal and plastic in Birmingham, AL is $62,390/year ($30/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.64), which stretches that salary to about $68,082 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,266/month, about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K get you in Birmingham?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Birmingham’s Regional Price Parity (91.64). 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 patternmakers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Birmingham
Patternmakers, metal and plastic pay in Birmingham tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,266/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Birmingham, AL
Entry-level patternmakers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $98K | +68% | 70 |
| Minnesota | $75K | +29% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +12% | N/A |
| Iowa | $63K | +9% | 90 |
| Alabama | $62K | +7% | 110 |
| Washington | $60K | +3% | 30 |
| Indiana | $55K | -6% | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $54K | -7% | 160 |
| Michigan | $54K | -7% | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $52K | -10% | 230 |
| Texas | $49K | -15% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $47K | -19% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track patternmakers, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Birmingham numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a patternmakers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Birmingham?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 30.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,266/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for patternmakers, metal and plastics in Birmingham?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new patternmakers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,974/month. At HUD’s $1,266/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is patternmakers, metal and plastic a high-paying job in Birmingham?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Birmingham compare to the national average for patternmakers, metal and plastics?
Birmingham pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do patternmakers, metal and plastics make in Birmingham, AL?
The median is $62,390 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,570, and experienced patternmakers, metal and plastics can clear $62,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Birmingham?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,101/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,266/month, which eats 30.9% 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 patternmakers, metal and plastic salary go in Birmingham?
Birmingham has a Regional Price Parity of 91.64 (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 patternmakers, metal and plastic salary is worth about $68,082 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do patternmakers, 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.