Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $72,250 +15.2% vs national
Median hourly $34.74
10th percentile $59,850
90th percentile $96,760
Employed locally 30
National median $62,700

Compare Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,850
    25th
    $62,400
    50th (median)
    $72,250
    75th
    $90,260
    90th
    $96,760

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 71% Median Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary is 29% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $102,130
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $85,820
    Georgia $84,700
    California $77,970
    Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $76,260
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $75,620

    Nearby metros — Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $102,130
    California $77,970
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $75,140
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $66,660
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $60,660
    North Carolina $46,680

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $45,870
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $56,110
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $47,860
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,010
    Production Workers, All Other $39,290
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $40,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Model Makers, Metal and Plastic make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic in San Diego, CA is $34.74, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.52 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary in San Diego, CA is 15.2% above the national median of $62,700. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic in San Diego?

    Entry-level Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $59,850 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $62,400.