Model Makers, Metal and Plastic vs Patternmakers, Wood AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

55 shared · 4 different

core competencies

low risk

Patternmakers, Wood

Side-by-Side Comparison

Patternmakers, Wood leads 4–1

Metric	Model Makers, Metal and Plastic	Patternmakers, Wood
Risk Score	28.1%	24.9%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Low Risk
Risk Percentile	30th	19th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	6 / 15	4 / 15
Median Salary	$62,700	$52,520
Employment	3K	180

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment

Mechanical

Controlling Machines and Processes

Troubleshooting

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

25%

total discount

Patternmakers, Wood

25%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

6 of 15 at risk

85%Record specifications, production operations, and final dimensions of models for use in establishing operating standards and procedures.

70%Inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers.

66%Lay out and mark reference points and dimensions on materials, using measuring instruments and drawing or scribing tools.

55%Program computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts.

55%Use computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM) software or hardware to fabricate model parts.

Patternmakers, Wood

4 of 15 at risk

84%Estimate costs for patternmaking jobs.

78%Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.

65%Compute dimensions, areas, volumes, and weights.

59%Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.

49%Finish completed products or models with shellac, lacquer, wax, or paint.

Wage Comparison

Patternmakers, Wood earns -$10,180(-16%) vs Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

Model Makers, Metal and PlasticPatternmakers, Wood

10th

$38,430$40,730

25th

$48,860$45,450

Median

$62,700$52,520

75th

$79,470$77,410

90th

$95,780$83,330

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic2028–2035

Patternmakers, Wood2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Patternmakers, Wood has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Model Makers, Metal and Plastic.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

$45,062

from $62,700

Patternmakers, Wood

$39,432

from $52,520

After adjusting for AI risk, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic offers $5,630 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Model

Unique to Patternmakers,

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Fine Manipulation

Creativity

Regulatory Barriers

Social Intelligence

Model Makers, Metal and PlasticPatternmakers, Wood

Find transitions from Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Find transitions from Patternmakers, Wood