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The differences between tool design engineers and staff 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 staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, 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 staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Tool Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,918 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $36.98 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 114,478 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Tool design engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tool Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,918 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $102,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Flexport | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a tool design engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Tool Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between tool design engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Tool Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |