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Tool and die maker: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$64,050median pay per year, or $30.79 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,680lowest 10% earn less
  2. $51,49025th percentile
  3. $64,050median
  4. $78,77075th percentile
  5. $92,680top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Tool and die makers earned a median of $64,050 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Entry usually takes a postsecondary award and long-term training on the job[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-9.2%[5]
Openings per year
4,300[6]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[3]

How much do tool and die makers make?

The median pay for a tool and die maker was $64,050 a year, or $30.79 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $66,860 a year, or $32.14 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[2].

Here is how annual pay spreads out[4]:

Point in the range Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][8] $44,680 $21.48
25th percentile[4][8] $51,490 $24.75
Median[1] $64,050 $30.79
75th percentile[4][8] $78,770 $37.87
90th percentile[4][8] $92,680 $44.56

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,680[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 56,930 people held these jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median among states with published data, at $109,390[12]. Kansas followed at $83,890 and Maine at $79,910[12]. Of the 45 states listed, West Virginia was last at $46,190[12]. Some states have very few jobs, so their medians rest on small groups[12].

Michigan had the most jobs with 9,420, followed by Ohio with 5,520 and Illinois with 5,220[13].

Among metro areas, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $116,850, then San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $97,560 and Kansas City, MO-KS at $85,740[14]. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area had the most jobs at 4,900, with a median of $73,120[15].

Show median pay in 45 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$109,3901,510
Kansas$83,890660
Maine$79,91080
Connecticut$77,5401,880
California$77,0301,790
New Jersey$74,460540
Oregon$73,930300
North Dakota$73,13070
Minnesota$71,0201,150
New Hampshire$69,910250
Vermont$69,300140
Nebraska$69,150360
Wisconsin$68,1202,450
New York$68,0801,270
Indiana$68,0504,090
Massachusetts$67,230850
Kentucky$66,5701,900
Oklahoma$65,870330
Michigan$65,5909,420
South Carolina$65,250870
Iowa$65,000760
Alabama$64,800690
Virginia$64,050390
Florida$63,890440
Colorado$63,800160
Rhode Island$63,430260
Ohio$62,2805,520
Nevada$61,350220
Illinois$61,1705,220
Pennsylvania$61,1603,380
North Carolina$61,0601,580
Missouri$60,8101,280
Tennessee$60,7602,930
Georgia$60,020850
South Dakota$59,77060
Arizona$59,140310
Maryland$58,11070
Mississippi$57,980300
Idaho$57,80050
Arkansas$56,840290
Utah$56,740270
Texas$55,4701,710
New Mexico$47,96040
Louisiana$46,950170
West Virginia$46,19040

How to become a tool and die maker

BLS describes the typical path like this[3]:

In an O*NET survey of 18 workers, 41% named a postsecondary certificate as the education required[16] and 40% named a high school diploma or equivalent[16]. Another 10% said an associate's degree and 10% said less than high school[16].

The details below come from a BLS profile for machinists and tool and die makers, which covers a wider group than this occupation[17]. It says tool and die makers may need postsecondary courses, and that workers typically learn on the job or through an apprenticeship[18][19]. Some community colleges and technical schools offer 2-year degree programs or shorter certificate programs[20]. Apprenticeships are often sponsored by an employer and combine paid work with technical instruction over several years[21]. Certifications are optional but may help with advancement[22].

What tool and die makers do

Tool and die makers make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures and gauges[23]. Common tasks include[24]:

The wider machinist profile highlights analytical skills, manual dexterity and technical skills[25][26][27]. It says the work can demand accuracy to within .0001 of an inch[26].

Where they work

The following comes from the wider machinists and tool and die makers profile[17]. Many of these workers are on full-time, regular business hours. Some work nights and weekends in facilities that run around the clock, and some work more than 40 hours a week[28]. Transportation equipment manufacturing employed 25% of them in 2025, the largest share listed[29]. Machine tools can be hazardous, so workers wear protective gear such as safety glasses and earplugs[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of tool and die makers to decline 9.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 56,700 to 51,500 jobs[5]. These counts include self-employed workers[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[31].

About 4,300 openings are still projected each year, on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when workers retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 4.1% of workers leave the labor force and 4.9% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job that pays above the all-occupations median[1][2], with a wide range up to $92,680 at the 90th percentile[4]. Getting in takes a postsecondary award and long-term training on the job[3]. Pay varies by state, from $109,390 in Washington to $46,190 in West Virginia[12]. Employment is projected to shrink 9.2% while all occupations grow 3.5%[5][31]. Openings still arise each year[6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a tool and die maker make an hour?
The median was $30.79 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $21.48 and the 90th was $44.56[8].
What education do you need to be a tool and die maker?
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award for entry, with no related experience typical[3].
How long does it take to become a tool and die maker?
BLS lists long-term on-the-job training[3]. A wider BLS profile says apprenticeships often last several years[21].
Are tool and die makers in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 9.2% from 2025 to 2035[5], but about 4,300 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for tool and die makers?
Washington, with a median of $109,390 a year[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Tool and Die Makers in the US was $64,050 per year and $30.79 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Tool and Die Makers: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Tool and Die Makers: 10th percentile $44,680, 25th percentile $51,490, 75th percentile $78,770, 90th percentile $92,680. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Tool and Die Makers is projected to decline 9.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 56,700 to 51,500 jobs (a change of -5,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,300 openings for Tool and Die Makers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Tool and Die Makers was $66,860 per year and $32.14 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Tool and Die Makers: 10th percentile $21.48, 25th percentile $24.75, 75th percentile $37.87, 90th percentile $44.56. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 56,930 people were employed as Tool and Die Makers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Tool and Die Makers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Tool and Die Makers jobs: Michigan 9,420; Ohio 5,520; Illinois 5,220; Indiana 4,090; Pennsylvania 3,380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Tool and Die Makers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $116,850; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $97,560; Kansas City, MO-KS $85,740; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $85,010; Wichita, KS $83,890; Lexington-Fayette, KY $83,510; Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $81,510; Lincoln, NE $80,030. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Tool and Die Makers jobs: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 4,900 (median $73,120); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,750 (median $61,180); Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI 1,540 (median $64,650); Cleveland, OH 1,280 (median $64,070); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,090 (median $116,850); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 950 (median $78,020). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 51-4111.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 41%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 40%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 10%, Less than a High School Diploma 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Machinists and Tool and Die Makers" covers Tool and Die Makers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Tool and Die Makers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Tool and Die Makers. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of machinists and tool and die makers in 2025: Transportation equipment manufacturing 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Tool and Die Makers: 4.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.