Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between plastics engineers and tool engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tool engineer has an average salary of $101,135, which is higher than the $80,304 average annual salary of a plastics engineer.
The top three skills for a plastics engineer include sigma, project management and extrusion. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.
| Plastics Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,304 | $101,135 |
| Hourly rate | $38.61 | $48.62 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 47,267 | 98,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Plastics engineers must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree, and they will receive training opportunities that involve workshops and seminars to keep job skills current. This career requires skills in Sigma, project management, CAD, product quality, and product design. Those who choose this career path engage in manufacturing, fabrication, and end use testing of existing materials and the development of new processes, materials, and equipment.
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.
Plastics engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plastics Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average salary | $80,304 | $101,135 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $106,000 | Between $75,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Union City, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | California |
| Best paying company | Pfizer | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a plastics engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plastics Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Plastics Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between plastics engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:
| Plastics Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 17.3% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 9% | 5% |