Tool designer vs tool builder

The differences between tool designers and tool builders 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 tool builder. Additionally, a tool designer has an average salary of $64,763, which is higher than the $44,285 average annual salary of a tool builder.

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

Tool designer vs tool builder overview

	Tool Designer	Tool Builder
Yearly salary	$64,763	$44,285
Hourly rate	$31.14	$21.29
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	51,666	10,843
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 48%	High School Diploma, 33%
Average age	54	54
Years of experience	6	6

Tool designer vs tool builder salary

Tool designers and tool builders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Tool Designer	Tool Builder
Average salary	$64,763	$44,285
Salary range	Between $47,000 And $87,000	Between $33,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	-
Highest paying state	California	-
Best paying company	Entegris	-
Best paying industry	Automotive	-

Differences between tool designer and tool builder education

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

	Tool Designer	Tool Builder
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 48%	High School Diploma, 33%
Most common major	Drafting And Design	Business
Most common college	-	-

Tool designer vs tool builder demographics

Here are the differences between tool designers' and tool builders' demographics:

	Tool Designer	Tool Builder
Average age	54	54
Gender ratio	Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%	Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1%
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, 2.5% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between tool designer and tool builder 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.

Tool builder example responsibilities.

Contract machinist Fanuc lathes machining large turbines for use in power generation for Mitsubishi-Hitachi in Savannah Ga.
Fabricate composite and aluminum full validating fixtures for interior and exterior vehicle build.

Tool designer vs tool builder skills

Common tool designer skills

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

Common tool builder skills

Jigs, 16%
Hand Tools, 12%
Calipers, 11%
Grinders, 11%
Aerospace, 5%
Machine Shop, 4%