Production
Patternmakers, wood
Plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.
Median pay
$49,630
Growth to 2035
−2%
declining
Openings a year
100
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Patternmakers, wood
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Patternmakers, wood: 44% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
- Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, and screws.
- Lay out patterns on wood stock and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products, based on blueprint specifications and sketches, and using marking and measuring devices.
- Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
- Divide patterns into sections according to shapes of castings to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
- Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.
- Correct patterns to compensate for defects in castings.
- Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and lathes to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.
Also called: Mold Maker · Pattern Engineer · Pattern Maker · Patternmaker · Wood Pattern Maker · Wood Patternmaker · Wood Shop Moldmaker · Woodshop Worker
Outlook and AI
Patternmakers, wood held 600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 600 by 2035 (−2%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Patternmakers, metal and plastic
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Model makers, wood
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Layout workers, metal and plastic
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Model makers, metal and plastic
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Tool and die makers
- Patternmakers, wood vs. Sheet metal worker