How To Become A Tool Designer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a tool designer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

As the name suggests, a tool designer is an individual who designs tools and equipment used in different industries, such as manufacturing, mining, and construction. With computer programs and their design skills, tool designers create tools like drills, broaches, fixtures, and other types of tools and equipment for their industry.

Tool designers also use design sketches, complex equations, and engineering data to create tools that can withstand stress, temperature changes, elements, and other situations. They may either work for a manufacturing company directly or work as a contractor to design a specialized tool according to the company's needs.

Most employers look for applicants who have completed a technical or vocational program on tool design. Under these programs, one can learn the basics of tool design through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on or on-the-job experience. Specifically, these programs help students build a strong foundation in geometry, physics, mechanics, and computer programs that are relevant for tool design.

Tool designers make an average of $64,000 a year or roughly $40 an hour. They usually work in fast-paced work environments and may have to stay on their feet for long periods throughout the day.

ScoreTool DesignerUS Average

Salary

5.1

Avg. Salary $64,763

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.4

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 2.72%

Black or African American 2.48%

Hispanic or Latino 6.63%

Unknown 2.84%

White 84.55%

Gender

female 7.12%

male 92.88%

Age - 57

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 57

Stress level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a tool designer

Explore tool designer education requirements

Most common tool designer degrees

Associate

48.2 %

Bachelor's

36.4 %

High School Diploma

4.7 %

Start to develop specific tool designer skills

Skills	Percentages
Jigs	9.59%
Assembly Fixtures	7.72%
Aerospace	6.43%
CNC	4.92%
NX	4.81%

Complete relevant tool designer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tool 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 designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tool designer resumes.

Research tool designer duties and responsibilities

Manage customer contacts, lead, design, sketch and model Saab environmental test fixtures using Unigraphics V18.
Tune and correct extrusion tools to achieve dimensional tolerances, finish and function of products to internal and external customer specifications.
Used drill press, surface grinders, vertical mills, lathes, & NC control mills.
Train on Unigraphics version NX 7.5 Mold layout and design for plastic injection molds to make automotive lighting components.

Prepare your tool designer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tool 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 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 designer resume templates

Build a professional tool 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 designer resume.