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The differences between senior manufacturing engineers and tool engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior manufacturing engineer, becoming a tool engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a tool engineer has an average salary of $101,135, which is higher than the $93,853 average annual salary of a senior manufacturing engineer.
The top three skills for a senior manufacturing engineer include lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and sigma. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,853 | $101,135 |
| Hourly rate | $45.12 | $48.62 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 97,154 | 98,936 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A Senior Manufacturing Engineer works in a company's production operations and is responsible for developing and improving manufacturing processes. They analyze and propose solutions to engineering problems.
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.
Senior manufacturing engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,853 | $101,135 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $123,000 | Between $75,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior manufacturing engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior manufacturing engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:
| Senior Manufacturing Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 17.1% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |