Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between design development engineers and tool engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a design development engineer and a tool engineer. Additionally, a tool engineer has an average salary of $101,135, which is higher than the $92,179 average annual salary of a design development engineer.
The top three skills for a design development engineer include solidworks, FEA and C++. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.
| Design Development Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,179 | $101,135 |
| Hourly rate | $44.32 | $48.62 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 174,870 | 98,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Design development engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for testing products for various industries such as electronics and synthetic textiles. These engineers must collaborate with the research and development (R&D;) organization to carry out initial new product development projects. They are required to coordinate a project with clients and consultants to ensure the approval of project permits and construction feasibility. Design development engineers must also possess skills in using software such as SolidWorks to model complex product parts and components.
A tooling engineer is responsible for creating and adjusting tools or parts for cars, heavy equipment, and other products that need customized or personalized components. Your duties and responsibilities will include creating design blueprints, using computer-aided (CAD) software to develop two- and three-dimensional prints, and validating and evaluating products. As a tooling engineer, it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with operational standards such as the ISO 9000. You also have to provide technical assistance to manufacturing personnel and quality assurance.
Design development engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Development Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,179 | $101,135 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $124,000 | Between $75,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design development engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Development Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between design development engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:
| Design Development Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.0% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |