How to hire model makers, metal and plastic
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets. • Drill, countersink, and ream holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools. • Grind, file, and sand parts to finished dimensions. • Inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers. • Program computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts. • Rework or alter component model or parts as required to ensure that products meet standards. • Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models. • Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong critical thinking and monitoring skills • Working knowledge of mechanical, mathematics, production and processing and design • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $30.45 an hour ($63,340 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for model makers, metal and plastic
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to drill, countersink, and ream holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to grind, file, and sand parts to finished dimensions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What model makers, metal and plastic do
- Cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets.
- Drill, countersink, and ream holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools.
- Grind, file, and sand parts to finished dimensions.
- Inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers.
- Program computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts.
- Rework or alter component model or parts as required to ensure that products meet standards.
- Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models.
- Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for model makers, metal and plastic
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -17.3% over ten years, declining · about 200 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay model makers, metal and plastic
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Michigan | $60,540 |
See model makers, metal and plastic pay in every state
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- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.