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The differences between design manufacturing 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 manufacturing engineer and a tool engineer. Additionally, a design manufacturing engineer has an average salary of $102,492, which is higher than the $101,135 average annual salary of a tool engineer.
The top three skills for a design manufacturing engineer include CNC, continuous improvement and GD. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.
| Design Manufacturing Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,492 | $101,135 |
| Hourly rate | $49.27 | $48.62 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 127,555 | 98,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A design manufacturing engineer specializes in designing and developing manufacturing systems and equipment. They primarily conduct research and analyses, develop drafts and prototypes, set and implement test systems, troubleshoot issues, and maintain extensive records. They may also assess existing systems to identify their weaknesses and strengths, fix or repair components, perform adjustments, and provide technical support to staff as necessary. Moreover, a design manufacturing engineer empowers staff to reach goals and implements safety standards and policies for a safe and productive work environment.
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 manufacturing engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Manufacturing Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,492 | $101,135 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $147,000 | Between $75,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design manufacturing engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Manufacturing Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | 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 manufacturing engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:
| Design Manufacturing Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 69.6% 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% |