20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You start by reading blueprints or sketches, then lay out patterns on wood stock and draw outlines with measuring tools. Expect cutting, fitting, gluing fillets, and shaping on a lathe or with hand tools.
Afternoons often go to finishing (shellac, lacquer, wax), repairing old patterns, and keeping pattern records. You’ll also issue patterns to machine operators and update inventory or order supplies as needed.
Begin with Autodesk AutoCAD because it’s widely used to draw outlines and convert blueprints into clear 2D patterns. Microsoft Excel and Outlook are also useful for cost estimates and communication.
After AutoCAD, learn Mastercam or Delcam PowerMILL if you’ll generate toolpaths for CNC, and Geomagic Design X if you need to reverse-engineer 3D models from scans.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 220 pattern makers were employed in 2025. The median wage was $49,630 per year; the lowest tenth earned $37,600 and the top tenth earned $83,780.
Pay varies by region, shop size, and whether you run CNC (higher) or mostly handwork (usually lower). BLS is the source for these numbers.
Plan wood cuts with the grain and use sharp tools; score the cut line when routing to prevent wood fibers from splintering. Turn the workpiece properly on the lathe and remove small amounts on each pass.
Glue fillets along interior angles to strengthen joints, and test-fit parts before final finishing. These steps reduce mistakes and make the pattern last longer.
AI can help generate CAD drafts or convert sketches into cleaner outlines, but always check dimensions and toolpaths against the blueprint. Never use AI outputs without manual verification because AI can miscompute measurements.
Avoid feeding proprietary patterns into public AI services. Use AI as a drafting helper, then run files through AutoCAD, Mastercam, or PowerMILL and simulate toolpaths before cutting wood.
A pattern maker builds precise wooden or foam models used to make sand molds for casting. The focus is on accurate dimensions, draft angles, and repeatability, not on building structures like a carpenter.
A mold maker often works with metal or tooling boards to create the actual mold. Pattern makers create the master pattern that mold makers or foundries use to form molds.
Be competent with marking and measuring devices, able to draw outlines from blueprints, and know basic lathe operation to turn workpieces. Basic math for computing volumes, areas, and weights matters.
Show experience with AutoCAD or familiarity with Excel for cost estimates, plus safe machine use. Employers also value attention to finish—sanding, shellac, lacquer—and record-keeping for pattern inventories.