Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Tool and Die Makers is a professional role in the Production job family, focused on Tool and Die Makers work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Tool and Die Makerss do
Typical education: Post-Secondary Certificate
Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.
Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.
Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications.
Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies.
Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools, using machine tools, hand tools, or welders.
Top skills:Quality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlTime ManagementMonitoringJudgment and Decision Making
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Tool and Die Makers pay by experience level
Entry level$46,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$53,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$66,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$81,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$96,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-10.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,700
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Tool and Die Makers salary by industry
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
14,610 workers
$79,500
Machinery Manufacturing
12,880 workers
$65,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
11,450 workers
$67,500
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing
10,160 workers
$64,500
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
8,930 workers
$73,000
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
7,580 workers
$68,500
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
4,280 workers
$65,500
Plastics Product Manufacturing
3,970 workers
$65,000
Primary Metal Manufacturing
3,630 workers
$60,000
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
3,190 workers
$93,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Tool and Die Makers pays 23% above the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
