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What is a tool and die designer and how to become one
A tool and die designer is skilled in designing craft dies and metal tools for manufacturing processes. You are expected to prepare and design blueprints, CAD drawings, and design schematics for metal form and precision tools. You will also be required to monitor and ensure that these dies are cut and shaped to specifications.
As a tool and die designer, you are to have an innate understanding of metal shapes and tolerances and know how to design them on a computer. Also, you may be required to design work aids such as jigs and templates in parts fabrication. Parts of your responsibilities also include setting up machine tools such as drills, lathes, milling machines, and grinders. You will also work to assemble all tools, die parts and test-run the finished product to ensure it works well.
Many tools and die designers are trained on the job. However, it is also possible to learn through apprenticeship programs or vocational school. Thus a high school diploma is often enough in many cases coupled with appropriate training. A Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a similar field may also be necessary. Tool and die designers may also need to have good physical strength, the ability to operate large machinery, and in-depth knowledge of metalwork and engineering. The average salary for this job is $59,173 per year.
Avg. Salary $45,993
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 1%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%
Asian 2.71%
Black or African American 2.43%
Hispanic or Latino 6.50%
Unknown 2.82%
White 84.76%
Genderfemale 4.47%
male 95.53%
Age - 57American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 57Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Tool and die designer career paths
Key steps to become a tool and die designer
Explore tool and die designer education requirements
Start to develop specific tool and die designer skills
Skills Percentages Jigs 13.58% Machine Tools 11.84% Hand Tools 8.85% CNC 8.15% Solidworks 8.10% Complete relevant tool and die designer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tool and die designers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tool and die designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tool and die designer resumes.Research tool and die designer duties and responsibilities
- Operate drill press, CNC, metal saws, grinding wheels and learned many valuable shop skills.
- Utilize Solidworks for prototype development, parts and manufacturing.
- Create BOM for die checker, purchase and die building.
- Design and machine extrusion dies and tools.
Prepare your tool and die designer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tool and die designer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a tool and die designer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable tool and die designer resume templates
Build a professional tool and die designer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your tool and die designer resume.
Apply for tool and die designer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a tool and die designer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first tool and die designer job
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Average tool and die designer salary
The average tool and die designer salary in the United States is $45,993 per year or $22 per hour. Tool and die designer salaries range between $33,000 and $63,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do tool and die designers rate their job?
Tool and die designer reviews
I love the work. Lots of job satisfaction. Steady work. 45yrs with the same company. I love it!
Time pressure to complete jobs. Massive overtime!
Working with Cad softwares and seeing the final product when the tool is complete.
Sitting behind computer all day.
Basically you are your own boss. You have a time frame to complete a extensive project and you determine the processes, and how to approach them. I get a really great sense of feeling accomplishment every day. I'm very proud to be a Jouneyman Toolmaker. All the overtime you can handle. Very very great pay.
Dont even attempt to be in this trade if you cant handle very long hours, and very little sleep at times. Be prepared to miss out on some things socially, as you need to devote serious time that can interfere with things at times.
Updated January 8, 2025
