Also called: Model Maker, Prototype Technician
Builds physical prototypes and models of products using 3D printers, CNC machines, foam, and hand tools.
They take a designer's CAD file and turn it into a realistic model that looks and feels like the real product, often painted and finished. One week it's a medical device; the next, a vacuum cleaner. They are craftspeople in a design studio.
Based on BLS model makers (metal and plastic), May 2024 estimates.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate degree or trade training in machining or industrial design.
Ways in: 2-year college, Trade school, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Industrial Design, Machining Technology (trade school).
Growing slowly. Steady demand in product development.
Medium risk for 10 years. 3D printing and CNC automate much prototyping; finishing, painting and complex mixed-material builds remain hands-on.
Classes: Woodshop or machining CTE, Engineering or CAD, Art 3-D Design.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-4061.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.