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Model Makers, Metal and Plastic: apprenticeship hours and pay
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Approved apprenticeship titles
11 apprenticeship titles on the Department of Labor's approved list fall under Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, trained competency-based, hybrid, time-based. The shortest approved term is 4,000 hours, for MODEL BUILDER (Furn) (competency-based).
| Title | RAPIDS code | Approach and term |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Extrusion Die Technician | 3085 | Competency-Based: 6,000 hours Hybrid: 6,000 to 8,000 hours Time-Based: 6,000 hours |
| ENGINEERING MODEL MAKER (Inst & App) | 0249 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| EXPER MECH MOTOR & BIKES | 0184 | Competency-Based: 7,328 hours Hybrid: 7,328 to 9,160 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours Time-Based (V2): 7,328 hours |
| MOCKUP BUILDER (Aircraft) | 0358 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| MODEL BUILDER (Furn) | 0339 | Competency-Based: 4,000 hours Hybrid: 4,000 to 5,000 hours Time-Based: 4,000 hours |
| MODEL MAKER (Auto Mfg) (Alternate Title: Model Making-Metal) | 0491 | Competency-Based: 7,328 hours Hybrid: 7,328 to 9,160 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours Time-Based (V2): 7,328 hours |
| MODEL MAKER (Clock & Watch) | 0363 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| MODEL MAKER, FIREARMS | 0780 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| PROTOTYPE MODEL MAKER | 0846 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| SAMPLE MAKER, APPLIANCES | 0490 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| TOOL BUILDER | 0205 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
Time-based programs count hours on the job; competency-based programs move on when the apprentice shows the skills; hybrid programs use both, within a range of hours (29 CFR 29.5(b)(2)). Each registered program sets its own term inside what the approved title allows.
What model makers, metal and plastic earn, by state
California has the highest state median for model makers, metal and plastic ($92,960) and North Carolina the lowest ($45,760), across the 15 states with a published figure.
| State | Median pay | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $92,960 | $44.69 | 260 |
| Florida | $79,930 | $38.43 | 50 |
| New York | $77,710 | $37.36 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | $34.78 | 70 |
| Illinois | $68,890 | $33.12 | Not published |
| Massachusetts | $67,830 | $32.61 | 100 |
| Texas | $65,920 | $31.69 | 230 |
| Indiana | $62,620 | $30.11 | 50 |
| Iowa | $61,550 | $29.59 | 40 |
| Ohio | $60,880 | $29.27 | 60 |
| Michigan | $60,540 | $29.11 | 710 |
| Rhode Island | $55,560 | $26.71 | 40 |
| Utah | $53,650 | $25.79 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,990 | $25.48 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $45,760 | $22.00 | Not published |
Finding a program
The public sponsor file names the organizations that run registered apprenticeships but not the occupations each one trains, so this guide names no sponsor. Search apprenticeship.gov's Apprenticeship Finder for this title, or ask your American Job Center which local programs train it.
Apprenticeship sponsors by state (25,633) · All approved occupations
Sources: apprenticeship.gov approved occupations list (Last-Modified October 8, 2026); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (all industries; blanks are figures BLS does not publish).