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The differences between product 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 product development engineer and a tool engineer. Additionally, a tool engineer has an average salary of $101,135, which is higher than the $86,075 average annual salary of a product development engineer.
The top three skills for a product development engineer include CAD, solidworks and product development. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.
| Product Development Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,075 | $101,135 |
| Hourly rate | $41.38 | $48.62 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 202,155 | 98,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.
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.
Product development engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,075 | $101,135 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $113,000 | Between $75,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product development engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:
| Product 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 product development engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:
| Product Development Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.9% 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% |