How to hire a die builder

Die builder hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring die builders in the United States:

In the United States, the median cost per hire a die builder is $1,633.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new die builder to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a die builder, step by step

To hire a die builder, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a die builder, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step die builder hiring guide:

Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
Step 3: Make a budget
Step 4: Write a die builder job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new die builder
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a die builder job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

The die builder hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

Determine employee vs contractor status

Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

A die builder's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, die builders from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

This list shows salaries for various types of die builders.

Type of Die Builder	Description	Hourly rate
Die Builder	Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.	$14-33
Tool Maker	The job of a toolmaker is to make precision tools, holding devices, and special guides that are used in the manufacturing process. You will be responsible for repairing, maintaining, and improving jigs, fixtures, and fittings for press tools and all tooling dies, conducting routine regrinding and servicing of tools, and ensuring compliance with all quality standard regulations... Show more	$19-32
Tool Designer	A tool designer is an expert who works to engineer a new equipment's initial design used in industrial manufacturing. Tool designers design machine cutting tools like drills, broaches, and milling-machine cutters... Show more	$22-41

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Grinders
- Jigs
- Support Production
- CAD
- Hoists
Responsibilities:
- Perform all machining operations necessary to build production machinery and tooling to manufacture a wide selection of aerospace fasteners.
- Jig out the pattern of mylar on flat and rotary die boards.
- Perform all machining operations necessary to build production machinery and tooling to manufacture a wide selection of aerospace fasteners.
Make a budget
Including a salary range in your die builder job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A die builder salary can vary based on several factors:
- Location. For example, die builders' average salary in montana is 41% less than in new jersey.
- Seniority. Entry-level die builders earn 57% less than senior-level die builders.
- Certifications. A die builder with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
- Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a die builder's salary.
Average die builder salary
$46,550yearly
$22.38 hourly rate
Entry-level die builder salary
$30,000 yearly salary
Updated December 22, 2025
Writing a die builder job description
A good die builder job description should include a few things:
- Summary of the role
- List of responsibilities
- Required skills and experience
Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a die builder job description:
Die builder job description example
**ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Safety**

+ Follows plant safety procedures and guidelines

+ Know emergency procedures and what to do in the event of power outages, machine failures, workplace injuries, etc.

+ Wears and utilizes personal protective equipment (PPE) as required

+ Understand and identifies Lock-out/Tag-out procedures

+ Informs supervisor of safety issues; reports any workplace injury or incident immediately

**Task**

+ Set-up CNC machine including raw materials and cutters

+ Understanding of basic machine programming and controls with the ability to perform basic manipulations to programs

+ Firm understanding of G codes and canned programs

+ Prepare blocks for machining

+ Incorporate vacuum vent holes, bench and polish cavities and inserts for prototype and/or production use

+ Maintain CNC machine and area cleanliness and upkeep

+ Assembly of mold, pre-punch, die, and stacker units

+ Ability to operate manual machining equipment including, but not limited to saws, mills, and lathes

+ Measure dimensions of finished work pieces to ensure conformance to specification, using precision measuring instruments, templates, and fixtures

+ Ability to design and fabricate tooling fixtures

+ Have a basic concept of MasterCam or equivalent CNC programs

+ Support Corporate Engineering departments tasks as assigned

+ Performs tasks as assigned by Tool Room Manager

+ Ability to create simple designs and drawings for Engineering department

+ Participate in tool design review meetings

+ Ability to read blueprints w/ basic understanding of GD&T tolerancing

+ Assists in general Engineering needs

+ Track hours worked against assigned projects

+ Maintains organized work areas

+ No direct supervision responsibilities

+ Work on projects with some support from Tool & Die Builder III along with the Tool Room Manager

+ Ability to track and inventory tool room assets including cutters, raw materials and other tooling components

+ Supply feedback on tool design and methods to ease manufacturing and assembly of tooling component

**QUALIFICATIONS**

+ High School education required; Engineering, Journeyman, or Trade School a plus

+ 5+ years' experience in hands-on Machine shop operations; CNC set-up experience a plus

+ Demonstrated general problem-solving around machining and tooling design, fabrication, and debug

+ Solid communication skills, both written and verbal

+ General mechanical experience including the ability to work with manual tool room equipment and hand tools

+ MasterCam or equivalent programming experience a plus

**BENEFITS**

We offer a competitive salary & comprehensive benefit package which includes:

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

• Wellness program

• 401K with company match

• STD/LTD

• Company paid Life Insurance

• FSA (Medical & Dependent care)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Plus more!

**Qualifications**

**Education**

**Required**

+ High School or better

**Licenses & Certifications**

**Preferred**

+ CNC Machinist
Post your job
To find the right die builder for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with die builders they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit die builders who meet your education requirements.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your die builder job on Zippia to find and recruit die builder candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
To successfully recruit die builders, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.
Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new die builder
Once you've decided on a perfect die builder candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.
It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a die builder?

There are different types of costs for hiring die builders. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new die builder employee.

The median annual salary for die builders is $46,550 in the US. However, the cost of die builder hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a die builder for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $14 and $33 an hour.

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Updated December 22, 2025

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How to hire a die builder