Home / Federal careers / WG-4714
Model Making
Federal Wage Grade position creating scale models, prototypes, and mockups for engineering, training, and display purposes at federal facilities, laboratories, and military installations.
What WG-4714 pays
Federal Wage System pay is set by local prevailing wage surveys, so it moves with the wage area rather than a national table.
Wage Grade rates are published per wage area rather than nationally, so the number that matters is the one for the installation you are applying to.
Source: DoD Civilian Personnel Advisory Service wage schedules.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for WG-4714, as written.
Model Making
Federal Wage System Position
Work Performed
This standard is used to grade all nonsupervisory jobs involved in planning and fabricating complex research and prototype models which are made from a variety of materials and are used in scientific, engineering, developmental, experimental, and test work.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for WG-4714
1Review Trade/Craft Requirements
WG positions require demonstrated skill in a specific trade or craft. Review the job announcement for required certifications, licenses, and hands-on experience.
2Document Your Experience
WG positions are experience-based, not grade-based. Document your years of hands-on trade experience, apprenticeships completed, and journeyman status if applicable.
3Gather Credentials
Collect your DD-214, trade certifications (welding, electrical, HVAC, etc.), apprenticeship completion certificates, and any specialized licenses required for your trade.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages, the same USAJOBS limit that has applied since 27 September 2025. Lead with hands-on trade experience: the tools and equipment you ran, safety training, the projects you finished, and hours worked per week.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for WG positions in your trade specialty, carefully answer assessment questions about your skill level and experience, and submit before the closing date.
Typical duties
- Perform model making tasks as assigned
- Follow safety procedures and regulations
- Maintain and operate tools and equipment
- Complete work orders and documentation
- Coordinate with team members and supervisors
Key competencies
Ability to follow safety procedures and regulations
Knowledge of tools and equipment for the trade
Skill in performing physical tasks requiring manual dexterity
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Ability to read and interpret instructions and procedures
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about WG-4714
What is a Model Maker?
A Model Maker (WG-4714) creates scale models, prototypes, and mockups for engineering, training, and display purposes at federal facilities, laboratories, and military installations. They produce accurate representations of equipment, structures, and systems for design validation and presentation.
How much does a federal Model Maker make?
Federal Model Makers (WG-4714) are paid under the Federal Wage System based on local prevailing rates. Journeyman wages (WG-10/11) typically range $28-$42 per hour depending on locality. Annual earnings range $58,000-$87,000. Aerospace model makers earn premium rates.
What are the requirements for WG-4714 positions?
WG-4714 requires skill working with multiple materials to create accurate scale models. Qualifications include ability to read engineering drawings, work with wood, metal, and plastics, use precision measuring tools, and produce models meeting exacting specifications.
Can military experience substitute for education in WG-4714?
Military model making or prototype experience may help qualify. Training aids developers, aircraft mockup builders, and engineering support specialists may have relevant skills. Precision fabrication experience from any MOS provides foundational capabilities.
What is the career progression for Model Making?
Model Makers progress through skill levels based on complexity and precision. Career paths include aerospace prototyping, training aids development, or transition to GS engineering technician roles. 3D printing skills increasingly supplement traditional model making.
How do I apply for WG-4714 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Model Maker' or series '4714.' Positions exist at research laboratories, engineering centers, and training facilities. Include portfolio examples demonstrating your scale model work and precision fabrication. Veterans receive preference.
Ready to apply for WG-4714?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.