Tool designer vs die maker

The differences between tool designers and die makers 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 designer and a die maker. Additionally, a tool designer has an average salary of $64,763, which is higher than the $50,035 average annual salary of a die maker.

The top three skills for a tool designer include jigs, assembly fixtures and aerospace. The most important skills for a die maker are hand tools, grinders, and jigs.

Tool designer vs die maker overview

	Tool Designer	Die Maker
Yearly salary	$64,763	$50,035
Hourly rate	$31.14	$24.06
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	51,666	7,600
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 48%	High School Diploma, 33%
Average age	54	54
Years of experience	6	6

Tool designer vs die maker salary

Tool designers and die makers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Tool Designer	Die Maker
Average salary	$64,763	$50,035
Salary range	Between $47,000 And $87,000	Between $36,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	-
Highest paying state	California	-
Best paying company	Entegris	-
Best paying industry	Automotive	-

Differences between tool designer and die maker education

There are a few differences between a tool designer and a die maker in terms of educational background:

	Tool Designer	Die Maker
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 48%	High School Diploma, 33%
Most common major	Drafting And Design	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Tool designer vs die maker demographics

Here are the differences between tool designers' and die makers' demographics:

	Tool Designer	Die Maker
Average age	54	54
Gender ratio	Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%	Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between tool designer and die maker duties and responsibilities

Tool designer example 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.

Die maker example responsibilities.

Operate manual lathes, large and small boring mills, drill presses, CNC machines.
Operate and set-up machines such as drill press, lathe, milling machines and surface grinders, etc.
Operate forklifts and overhead cranes.
Specialize in building of cam stations.
Read micrometers, calipers, scales, indicators etc.
Maintain proficiency standard in MIG welding and acquire fresh proficiency in TIG procedures.

Tool designer vs die maker skills

Common tool designer skills

Jigs, 10%
Assembly Fixtures, 8%
Aerospace, 6%
CNC, 5%
NX, 5%
GD, 4%

Common die maker skills

Hand Tools, 14%
Grinders, 13%
Jigs, 12%
CNC, 9%
Machine Tools, 7%
CAD, 7%