Post job

Senior tooling engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a senior tooling engineer. Senior tooling engineers usually study mechanical engineering, precision metal working, or business. 55% of senior tooling engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 327 real senior tooling engineer resumes to see exactly what senior tooling engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for senior tooling engineers are the Vincennes University and the Vincennes University.

There are also many online senior tooling engineer courses to help get the education required to be a senior tooling engineer.

What education do you need to become a senior tooling engineer?

What degree do you need to be a senior tooling engineer?

The most common degree for senior tooling engineers is bachelor's degree, with 55% of senior tooling engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 20% and associate degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 55%
  • Associate, 20%
  • Master's, 12%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a senior tooling engineer?

You should major in mechanical engineering to become a senior tooling engineer. 28% of senior tooling engineers major in mechanical engineering. Other common majors for a senior tooling engineer include precision metal working and business.

Most common colleges for senior tooling engineers

Senior tooling engineers often get their degrees at Vincennes University, Auburn University Main Campus, and Ferris State University. Here are the most common colleges for senior tooling engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Senior tooling engineer common collegePercentages
Vincennes University7.50%
Auburn University Main Campus7.50%
Ferris State University7.50%
Northern Illinois University7.50%
Schoolcraft College5.00%

Best majors for senior tooling engineers

Best colleges for senior tooling engineers

The best colleges for senior tooling engineers are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Cornell University.

A senior tooling engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for senior tooling engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become senior tooling engineers.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

7. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

In-state tuition

$15,374

Enrollment

19,564

8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

9. Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$52,930

Enrollment

5,030

10. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,620

Enrollment

27,730

20 best online courses for senior tooling engineers

Advertising disclosure

1. Engineering and Product Design Processes

coursera

Welcome to “Engineering and Product Design Processes!” In this short course, you will learn how engineering design processes and product design processes are carried out. After the course, you will be familiar with the steps in both design processes. You will also be familiar with the main goal of each design process, as well as their similarities and differences...

2. Engineering Project Management

coursera

Master strategies and tools to more effectively and successfully manage projects.\n\nToday’s professional environment is highly competitive, continuously changing, and difficult to manage. Employees rarely reach positions of leadership without managing one or more projects or a project segment early in their career.\n\nBrought to you by the Rice Center of Engineering Leadership and team behind the engineering management master's program, the goal of this Specialization is to give you the tools...

3. Learning SOLIDWORKS: For Students, Engineers, and Designers

udemy
4.4
(2,712)

For Basic and Intermediate Users...

4. Automotive product design using CATIA V5

udemy
4.4
(624)

Automotive domain design using CATIA, interior and exterior trims on CATIA, Plastic product design in Automotive sector...

5. Machine Learning Engineering for Production (MLOps)

coursera

Understanding machine learning and deep learning concepts is essential, but if you’re looking to build an effective AI career, you need production engineering capabilities as well.\n\nEffectively deploying machine learning models requires competencies more commonly found in technical fields such as software engineering and DevOps. Machine learning engineering for production combines the foundational concepts of machine learning with the functional expertise of modern software development and...

6. Complete Course in CATIA

udemy
4.4
(674)

For Students, Engineers, and Designers...

7. Mechanical design and Product development process

udemy
4.2
(604)

Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...

8. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners

udemy
4.5
(1,111)

Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...

9. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

udemy
4.5
(1,218)

The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...

10. Introduction to SOLIDWORKS

udemy
4.6
(1,147)

Learn the fundamentals of SOLIDWORKS engineering and design software including parts, drawings, and assemblies...

11. Product Development & Systems Engineering

udemy
4.6
(3,086)

The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...

12. Basics of Sheet metal design for Mechanical design engineers

udemy
4.3
(793)

Learn Sheet metal design, processes and practical design considerations along with Design projects...

13. Continuous Improvement Tools

udemy
4.7
(662)

Essential Lean Tools and Techniques for Business Process Improvement, Operational Excellence, and Customer Satisfaction...

14. Advanced React For Enterprise: React for senior engineers

udemy
4.4
(1,549)

A practical deep dive into building, scaling and maintaining high-quality design systems for software engineers...

15. Unreal Engine: Intro to Game Design

udemy
4.5
(840)

Like Fortnite? Master the tools used to build it as we build a simple shooting gallery game using the Unreal Engine!...

16. Great Product Manager: Product Management by a Big Tech's PM

udemy
4.5
(2,976)

Become a Great Product Manager! Land your dream job with Big Tech's Senior Product Manager...

17. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing

udemy
4.5
(657)

Learn about the basics of selecting process for a mechanical design and the principles of design for Manufacturing...

18. Complete CATIA V5 course - Aerospace, Automotive, Industrial

udemy
4.5
(1,945)

Learn CATIA V5 with this perfectly designed course created after live interaction with 1000s of students in classroom...

19. Introduction to Automotive Product Design & development

udemy
4.4
(648)

Learn about the process, milestones and activities from idea to complete design of cars for Automotive engineers...

20. Master Digital Product Design: UX Research & UI Design

udemy
4.6
(8,540)

A complete design education for product designers: Research the user experience, then design a great user interface...

Top 10 most affordable universities for senior tooling engineers

The most affordable schools for senior tooling engineers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, california state university - long beach, and florida international university.

If the best universities for senior tooling engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for senior tooling engineers.

1. United States Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$1,080

Cost of attendance

6,646

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

6. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

7. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for senior tooling engineers

The hardest universities for senior tooling engineers to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Cornell University.

Some great schools for senior tooling engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for senior tooling engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

4. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,566

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for senior tooling engineers

The easiest schools for senior tooling engineers to get into are The University of Texas at El Paso, saint cloud state university, and saint martin's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a senior tooling engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for senior tooling engineers.

1. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

2. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

3. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

5. Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,093

6. Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Buzzards Bay, MA • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,127

7. Portland State University

Portland, OR • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,111

8. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

9. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

10. The Citadel

Charleston, SC • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,129

Average senior tooling engineer salary by education level

Senior tooling engineers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $138,381 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, senior tooling engineers earn a median annual income of $123,819 compared to $104,836 for senior tooling engineers with an Associate degree.
Senior tooling engineer education levelSenior tooling engineer salary
Master's Degree$138,381
Bachelor's Degree$123,819
Some College/ Associate Degree$104,836

Senior tooling engineer education FAQs

Search for senior tooling engineer jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse architecture and engineering jobs