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The differences between lead design 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 lead design engineer and a tool engineer. Additionally, a lead design engineer has an average salary of $108,490, which is higher than the $101,135 average annual salary of a tool engineer.
The top three skills for a lead design engineer include CAD, project management and lead design. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.
| Lead Design Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $108,490 | $101,135 |
| Hourly rate | $52.16 | $48.62 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 118,073 | 98,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Lead Design Engineer produces design solutions that can be purchased, installed, and commissioned effectively. They are also responsible for the cost-effectiviness and safety of new designs.
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.
Lead design engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Design Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average salary | $108,490 | $101,135 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $143,000 | Between $75,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lead design engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Design Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | 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 lead design engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:
| Lead Design Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 15.5% White, 67.6% 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% |