What Does A Wood Patternmaker Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Wood Patternmakers

Wood Patternmakers plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.

Salary
$60750
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Post-secondary certificate
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Low

Personality


What they do

Wood Patternmakers plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.

  • Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
  • Layout 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.
  • Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.
  • 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.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Wood Patternmakers read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups. They select lumber to be used for patterns.

A typical day for a Wood Patternmaker will also include:

  • Issue patterns to designated machine operators.
  • 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.
  • Layout 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.
  • Fit, fasten and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, and screws.
  • Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Wood Patternmakers also inventory equipment and supplies, ordering parts and tools as necessary. They may also compute dimensions, areas, volumes, and weights.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Wood Patternmakers glue fillets along with interior angles of patterns. They might also issue patterns to designated machine operators.

In addition, they verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them finish completed products or models with shellac, lacquer, wax, or paint.

To some Wood Patternmakers, it is also their responsibility to select lumber to be used for patterns.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

Salary is below average.

How much do they make

Average salary

$60750 per year

Average hourly wage

$29 per hour

Entry-level Wood Patternmakers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $32,380 to $45,210 per year or $16 to $22 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $83,050 $40
Senior (Top 25%) $75,690 $36
Median $65,120 $31
Junior (Bottom 25%) $45,210 $22
No experience (Bottom 10%) $32,380 $16

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
0%

40 hours
64%

More than 40 hours
36%

Working schedule

92%

8%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
1%

Every day
9%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
26%

Every day
14%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
24%

Every day
75%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
95%

Once a year
0%

Once a month
4%

Once a week
1%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
22%

Slightly competitive
26%

Moderately competitive
41%

Highly competitive
5%

Extremely competitive
7%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
49%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
48%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
17%

Once a year or more
18%

Once a month or more
3%

Once a week or more
15%

Every day
46%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
60%

Once a year or more
30%

Once a month or more
11%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
82%

Once a year or more
18%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Medium
You will need previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an Associate’s degree, and one or two years of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Travel Agents, Agricultural Technicians, Court Reports, and Medical Assistants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
12%

High School Diploma or equivalent
28%

Post-Secondary Certificate
46%

Some College Courses
10%

Associate’s Degree or similar
4%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Cabinetmaking and Millwork

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to set up, operate and repair industrial woodworking machinery, and to use such machinery to design and fabricate wooden components and complete articles.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
24%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
19%

6 months to 1 year
2%

1 to 2 years
10%

2 to 4 years
14%

4 to 6 years
9%

6 to 8 years
20%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
3%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
10%

1 month
20%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
7%

1 to 2 years
21%

2 to 4 years
5%

4 to 10 years
38%

Over 10 years
1%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
62%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
57%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
19%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
57%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
38%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
45%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
38%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
52%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
71%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
48%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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