Tool and Die Makers Salary
Production Occupations · 57K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$64,050
Median hourly
$31
Average annual
$66,860
Typical range
$44,680–$92,680
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Tool and Die Makers is $64,050 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $31 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools..
Most earn between $44,680 and $92,680 a year. There are roughly 57K people employed as tool and die makers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Tool and Die Makers.
- Hourly
- $30.79
- Daily
- $246
- Weekly
- $1,232
- Bi-weekly
- $2,463
- Monthly
- $5,338
- Annual
- $64,050
$64,050 a year is around the 50th percentile for Tool and Die Makerss. The median is $64,050.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$109,390
- 2Kansas$83,890
- 3Maine$79,910
- 4Connecticut$77,540
- 5California$77,030
- 6New Jersey$74,460
- 7Oregon$73,930
- 8North Dakota$73,130
- 9Minnesota$71,020
- 10New Hampshire$69,910
- 11Vermont$69,300
- 12Nebraska$69,150
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$116,850
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$97,560
- 3Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$87,240
- 4Kansas City, MO-KS$85,740
- 5San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$85,010
- 6Lima, OH$84,730
- 7Wichita, KS$83,890
- 8Lexington-Fayette, KY$83,510
- 9Stockton-Lodi, CA$82,820
- 10Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$81,510
- 11Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN$80,060
- 12Lincoln, NE$80,030
Related job titles
Employers advertise Tool and Die Makers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,330
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic$63,340
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$42,660
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,800
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,030
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180
What a Tool and Die Makers does
- Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.
- 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.
- Inspect finished dies for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects.
- Select metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness or heat tolerance.
- Lift, position, and secure machined parts on surface plates or worktables, using hoists, vises, v-blocks, or angle plates.
- Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Tool and Die Makers make?
- The median annual wage for Tool and Die Makers is $64,050 ($31 per hour). Pay ranges from about $44,680 at the 10th percentile to $92,680 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Tool and Die Makers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $66,860, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Tool and Die Makerss the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $109,390.
- Is Tool and Die Makers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 57K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Tool and Die Makers do?
- Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.; 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..