SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. Includes shipfitters.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 51-4192.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $39,980 | $3,332 | $769 | $19.22 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $50,910 | $4,242 | $979 | $24.48 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $63,870 | $5,322 | $1,228 | $30.71 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $79,470 | $6,622 | $1,528 | $38.21 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $93,860 | $7,822 | $1,805 | $45.12 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic is $63,870, which is 25% higher. Among the 105 occupations of the field Production, it ranks number 12 by median pay. With 5,970 jobs, it makes up about 0.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic pay by state
The highest median pay was in Hawaii ($87,570), Washington ($85,300) and Kansas ($79,240). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($25,170), Alabama ($37,590) and New Mexico ($38,560). The most jobs were in Virginia (1,080), Kansas (610) and Washington (500). The occupation is most concentrated in Kansas, where its share of all jobs is 11.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 140 | $87,570 | $86,130 | $42.10 |
| Washington | 500 | $85,300 | $82,430 | $41.01 |
| Kansas | 610 | $79,240 | $75,010 | $38.09 |
| Oregon | not published | $75,020 | $77,060 | $36.07 |
| Maine | 180 | $74,530 | $71,960 | $35.83 |
| California | 480 | $74,490 | $74,020 | $35.81 |
| Virginia | 1,080 | $70,260 | $71,560 | $33.78 |
| Massachusetts | 90 | $63,880 | $63,350 | $30.71 |
| New York | 70 | $62,700 | $62,900 | $30.15 |
| Michigan | 160 | $61,550 | $60,490 | $29.59 |
| Wisconsin | 150 | $60,810 | $60,170 | $29.24 |
| Pennsylvania | 150 | $59,350 | $59,680 | $28.53 |
| Florida | 200 | $58,170 | $60,330 | $27.97 |
| Georgia | 80 | $52,600 | $55,000 | $25.29 |
| Texas | 190 | $48,220 | $48,780 | $23.18 |
| Tennessee | 40 | $43,250 | $50,300 | $20.79 |
| South Carolina | 40 | $41,650 | $46,830 | $20.02 |
| New Mexico | 60 | $38,560 | $38,830 | $18.54 |
| Alabama | 190 | $37,590 | $41,960 | $18.07 |
| Puerto Rico | 110 | $25,170 | $25,180 | $12.10 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$68,120 a year
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$65,380 a year
- Tool and Die Makers$64,050 a year
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic$63,340 a year
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers$62,750 a year
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters$62,620 a year
Common questions
How much do Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic earn in the United States?
The median pay was $63,870 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,980 and the highest-paid 10% more than $93,860.
How many people work as Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic?
About 5,970 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.