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The differences between tool design engineers and lead 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 tool design engineer and a lead engineer. Additionally, a lead engineer has an average salary of $84,927, which is higher than the $76,918 average annual salary of a tool design engineer.
The top three skills for a tool design engineer include solidworks, jigs and GD. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Tool Design Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,918 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $36.98 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 114,478 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Tool Design Engineers are responsible for the design of new tools as well as making improvements to existing ones. They are responsible for drafting schematics and blueprints, determining tool specifications and production as well as carrying out calculations to establish tools cost, materials, and dimensions. Other duties include communicating with suppliers to implement tool modifications, tracking performance targets, and conducting cost budgeting. A good Tool Design Engineer aims to reduce tool breakdowns and minimize maintenance costs.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Tool design engineers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tool Design Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,918 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $102,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a tool design engineer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Tool Design Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between tool design engineers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Tool Design Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |