How to hire a tool designer

How to hire a tool designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tool designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a tool designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tool designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a tool designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your tool designer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a tool designer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect tool designer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of tool designer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Tool Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Tool Designer	Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.	$22-41
   Mold Maker	A Mold Maker creates, adjusts, inspects, maintains, and repairs molds and production equipment. They use various machines, such as lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, and jig borders.	$16-32
   Computer Aided Design Designer	A computer-aided design (CAD) designer is responsible for creating plan outlines and project designs for a specific business need. A CAD designer utilizes various technologies and software applications to generate graphic illustrations... Show more	$19-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Jigs
   • Assembly Fixtures
   • Aerospace
   • CNC
   • NX
   • GD
   • Creo
   • CAD/CAM
   • Mechanical Design
   • Catia V5
   • Cad Cam
   • Design Reviews
   • Auto CAD
   • Engineering Drawings

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Design automated production assembly jigs and fixtures for medical devices.
   • Design transfer, progressive, and blank dies for niche market OEM's.

   More tool designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your tool designer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A tool designer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, tool designers' average salary in florida is 49% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tool designers 46% less than senior-level tool designers.
   • Certifications. A tool designer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a tool designer's salary.

   Average tool designer salary

   $64,763yearly

   $31.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tool designer salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average tool designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$97,889	$47
   2	Nevada	$79,503	$38
   3	Indiana	$77,868	$37
   4	Illinois	$72,752	$35
   5	Utah	$71,745	$34
   6	Washington	$69,269	$33
   7	Delaware	$68,453	$33
   8	Connecticut	$67,781	$33
   9	Iowa	$66,687	$32
   10	Georgia	$66,616	$32
   11	Ohio	$66,480	$32
   12	New York	$66,176	$32
   13	Minnesota	$63,638	$31
   14	Michigan	$62,574	$30
   15	Oregon	$61,634	$30
   16	Texas	$49,853	$24

   Average tool designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Entegris	$96,233	$46.27	3
   2	Allison Transmission	$88,954	$42.77
   3	Waltonen Engineering	$81,413	$39.14	2
   4	Jacobs Engineering Group	$77,485	$37.25
   5	Chromalloy Gas Turbine LLC	$75,006	$36.06	1
   6	ZeniMax Media	$73,177	$35.18	1
   7	Sandvik Coromant	$72,951	$35.07	3
   8	Koch Industries	$72,745	$34.97
   9	Pentair	$71,788	$34.51
   10	US Tech Solutions	$70,807	$34.04	46
   11	Schaeffler	$68,833	$33.09	5
   12	ICONMA	$68,419	$32.89	2
   13	BlackHawk Industrial	$67,489	$32.45	8
   14	VIVA USA	$67,022	$32.22
   15	Cyient	$66,118	$31.79	2
   16	Spark Talent Acquisition	$65,294	$31.39	5
   17	GWS Tool Group	$65,294	$31.39	1
   18	Jacobs Enterprises	$65,130	$31.31	236
   19	Graco	$65,099	$31.30
   20	Meyer Tool	$65,094	$31.30

4. Writing a tool designer job description

   A tool designer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a tool designer job description:

   Tool designer job description example

   The Mold/Tool Designer will perform design and programming functions for tool room operations including repairs, reverse engineering, and designs for new tooling.
   We will:
   Provide you a $1,000 Welcome Bonus - $500 paid after 60 days of employment and $500 paid after 120 days of employment Pay you competitively and support your long-term financial and retirement goals:$28.00 - $34.00/hr depending on experience - increased wages!!Eligibility for annual pay increases based on company & individual performance Up to 5% 401k match starting day one of employment25% employee stock purchase match up to $9,000/yr Up to $300/year in gift cards for completing our annual wellness program Provide a positive work/life balance:11 paid holidays each year2 weeks of vacation to start (accrued on a weekly basis)40 hours of sick time annually Offer health benefits and leave pay:Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance8 weeks of paid parental leave for new mothers and fathers Company paid life Insurance up to 10x base pay Company paid short term and long term disability Support your long-term learning: Tuition reimbursement to support your education goals Tell you more about all the great benefits - just ask!
   
   You will:
   Performing design of molding components, and full mold designs to support toolroom operations Design and extract electrodes for EDMDesignate appropriate sprue and runner locations gate and ejection layouts, water lines, etc. to ensure safe and quality tool builds Reverse engineer existing components for mold repairs Updating existing mold designs with changes Conduct work in Solidworks, MasterCam, or CimitronRecommend changes to mold designs to improve the life of the tooling and correct mold issues Have thorough knowledge and understanding of tooling, toolroom practices and fabricating techniques Completing purchase requisitions as needed Perform additional responsibilities/duties as required
   
   You should:
   Have 5 or more years of related experience in Injection Molding or equivalent combination of education and experience Have earned an at least an Associates' degree (A.A.S.) from a technical school Be able to understand and read blueprints Experience working in Solidworks, MasterCam, or CimitronIdeally have training and experience in the following areas: Injection Molding, Assembly (Manual and Automation), Process Control, Machining (Manual & CNC) Be a fact-based problem solver and have the ability to strategically analyze situations and problems
   Be innovative, take initiative, and be able to work independently with minimal supervision
   
   Position hours/shift:
   Availability for overtime.
   1st: 6:00AM - 2:30PM
   
   Physical Requirements:
   Physical requirements are standing, walking, twisting at the waist, lifting and lowering weights up to 50 pounds. Steel toed shoes, ear protection & eye protection are required on the distribution floor.
   
   Pentair is an Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   Diversity and Inclusion:
   With our expanding global presence, cross-cultural insight and competence are essential for our ongoing success. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes different perspectives and creative ideas that enable us to continue to improve every day. Race, gender, ethnicity, country of origin, age, personal style, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, life experiences and many more factors contribute to this diversity.
   We take ongoing action to improve the diversity of our workforce by:
   Ensuring leadership involvement and ownership Attracting and retaining diverse talent at all levels Fostering a globally aware, inclusive culture Ensuring our practices are fair and non-discriminatory

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right tool designer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with tool designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit tool designers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your tool designer job on Zippia to find and recruit tool designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with tool designer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new tool designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the tool designer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a tool designer?