Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a patternmakers, metal and plastic in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is $49,070/year ($23.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.94), that's roughly $50,619 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,338/month, about 40% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Milwaukee-Waukesha’s Regional Price Parity (96.94). 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha
Pay for patternmakers, metal and plastic in Milwaukee-Waukesha runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,338/month, which is 40.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.94) 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $49K | $49K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $75K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Entry-level patternmakers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $24K 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a patternmakers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 40.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,338/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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new patternmakers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,944/month. At HUD’s $1,338/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $49K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Milwaukee-Waukesha compare to the national average for patternmakers, metal and plastics?
Milwaukee-Waukesha pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do patternmakers, metal and plastics make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median is $49,070 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,070, and experienced patternmakers, metal and plastics can clear $73,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,326/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,338/month, which eats 40.2% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Milwaukee-Waukesha has a Regional Price Parity of 96.94 (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 $50,619 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.