Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a patternmakers, metal and plastic in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI is $48,790/year ($23.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.3), that's roughly $48,644 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,411/month, about 42.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Detroit-Warren-Dearborn’s Regional Price Parity (100.3). 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn
Pay for patternmakers, metal and plastic in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,411/month, which is 43.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.3) 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 patternmakers, metal and plastics.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for patternmakers, metal and plastics in metros near Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $49K | $51K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Entry-level patternmakers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $26K 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 with published data
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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a patternmakers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 43.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,411/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new patternmakers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,051/month. At HUD’s $1,411/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $49K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Detroit-Warren-Dearborn compare to the national average for patternmakers, metal and plastics?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do patternmakers, metal and plastics make in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The median is $48,790 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,180, and experienced patternmakers, metal and plastics can clear $60,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,264/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,411/month, which eats 43.2% 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 patternmakers, metal and plastic salary go in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn has a Regional Price Parity of 100.3 (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 patternmakers, metal and plastic salary is worth about $48,644 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.