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The differences between test 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 test design engineer and a tool engineer. Additionally, a tool engineer has an average salary of $101,135, which is higher than the $88,403 average annual salary of a test design engineer.
The top three skills for a test design engineer include test equipment, RF and python. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.
| Test Design Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,403 | $101,135 |
| Hourly rate | $42.50 | $48.62 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 125,776 | 98,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Test Design Engineer's job is to critically check all materials, processes, electrical, and mechanical systems to ensure that customers get high-quality products. As a Test Design Engineer, your job is to run tests to check the quality of products throughout the production cycle. This is done by checking the various components and features of these products to identify and fix technical issues easily. Your duties will also include checking the raw materials used for production, creating test environments and analyzing the results, and trying to ascertain the root cause of the malfunctions.
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.
Test design engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Design Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,403 | $101,135 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $115,000 | Between $75,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a test design engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:
| Test Design Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between test design engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:
| Test Design Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 67.1% 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% |