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Best states for a tool engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and architecture and engineering careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to tool engineer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for tool engineers.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of tool engineers in America is $135,000.
We figured that the best places for tool engineer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that California is the best state for tool engineer jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.
10 best states for tool engineers in 2026
1. California
Total tool engineer jobs: 8,893 Average annual salary: $138,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 1.75
2. Oregon
Total tool engineer jobs: 1,060 Average annual salary: $121,082 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
3. Washington
Total tool engineer jobs: 1,760 Average annual salary: $119,095 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
4. Utah
Total tool engineer jobs: 649 Average annual salary: $103,537 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
5. Arizona
Total tool engineer jobs: 1,184 Average annual salary: $100,570 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
6. Idaho
Total tool engineer jobs: 240 Average annual salary: $111,791 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
7. New Mexico
Total tool engineer jobs: 300 Average annual salary: $103,396 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
8. Nevada
Total tool engineer jobs: 276 Average annual salary: $110,798 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
9. Texas
Total tool engineer jobs: 3,378 Average annual salary: $98,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
10. New York
Total tool engineer jobs: 2,137 Average annual salary: $104,045 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
Tool engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a tool engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a tool engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $138,894 | $100,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,893 |
| 2 | Oregon | $121,082 | $88,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,060 |
| 3 | Washington | $119,095 | $87,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,760 |
| 4 | Utah | $103,537 | $75,000 | 3,101,833 | 649 |
| 5 | Arizona | $100,570 | $73,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,184 |
| 6 | Idaho | $111,791 | $81,000 | 1,716,943 | 240 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $103,396 | $75,000 | 2,088,070 | 300 |
| 8 | Nevada | $110,798 | $80,000 | 2,998,039 | 276 |
| 9 | Texas | $98,188 | $71,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,378 |
| 10 | New York | $104,045 | $78,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,137 |
| 11 | Colorado | $94,710 | $69,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,222 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $93,694 | $70,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,988 |
| 13 | Alaska | $102,458 | $83,000 | 739,795 | 96 |
| 14 | Maryland | $97,172 | $72,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,249 |
| 15 | Michigan | $86,982 | $66,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,458 |
| 16 | Virginia | $91,434 | $68,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,111 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $95,536 | $71,000 | 693,972 | 446 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $93,325 | $66,000 | 4,684,333 | 273 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $90,255 | $68,000 | 1,815,857 | 130 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $86,283 | $65,000 | 1,342,795 | 335 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $88,823 | $66,000 | 3,588,184 | 629 |
| 22 | Maine | $89,741 | $68,000 | 1,335,907 | 145 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $85,491 | $63,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,557 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $87,045 | $64,000 | 5,024,369 | 608 |
| 25 | Georgia | $87,727 | $64,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,382 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $88,609 | $67,000 | 869,666 | 89 |
| 27 | Montana | $87,890 | $64,000 | 1,050,493 | 141 |
| 28 | Illinois | $87,491 | $66,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,775 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $85,113 | $63,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,600 |
| 30 | Alabama | $83,529 | $61,000 | 4,874,747 | 676 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $88,831 | $66,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,112 |
| 32 | Florida | $88,533 | $60,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,923 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $86,250 | $64,000 | 3,930,864 | 256 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $84,598 | $63,000 | 4,454,189 | 404 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $82,593 | $62,000 | 1,059,639 | 217 |
| 36 | Delaware | $82,161 | $61,000 | 961,939 | 235 |
| 37 | Missouri | $85,073 | $63,000 | 6,113,532 | 709 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $80,307 | $61,000 | 5,795,483 | 843 |
| 39 | Iowa | $82,873 | $62,000 | 3,145,711 | 431 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $81,014 | $61,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,201 |
| 41 | Vermont | $81,495 | $61,000 | 623,657 | 131 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $82,076 | $60,000 | 579,315 | 73 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $81,512 | $60,000 | 6,715,984 | 559 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $79,969 | $59,000 | 3,004,279 | 288 |
| 45 | Indiana | $78,068 | $58,000 | 6,666,818 | 941 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $80,759 | $63,000 | 1,427,538 | 114 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $78,571 | $60,000 | 755,393 | 114 |
| 48 | Kansas | $78,151 | $58,000 | 2,913,123 | 378 |
| 49 | Ohio | $70,365 | $53,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,512 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $73,653 | $55,000 | 1,920,076 | 286 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $76,074 | $55,000 | 2,984,100 | 185 |
Highest paying states for tool engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Tool Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $138,894 |
| 2 | Oregon | $121,082 |
| 3 | Washington | $119,095 |
| 4 | Utah | $103,537 |
| 5 | Arizona | $100,570 |
| 6 | Idaho | $111,791 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $103,396 |
| 8 | Nevada | $110,798 |
| 9 | Texas | $98,188 |
| 10 | New York | $104,045 |
| 11 | Colorado | $94,710 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $93,694 |
| 13 | Alaska | $102,458 |
| 14 | Maryland | $97,172 |
| 15 | Michigan | $86,982 |
| 16 | Virginia | $91,434 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $95,536 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $93,325 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $90,255 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $86,283 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $88,823 |
| 22 | Maine | $89,741 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $85,491 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $87,045 |
| 25 | Georgia | $87,727 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $88,609 |
| 27 | Montana | $87,890 |
| 28 | Illinois | $87,491 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $85,113 |
| 30 | Alabama | $83,529 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $88,831 |
| 32 | Florida | $88,533 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $86,250 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $84,598 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $82,593 |
| 36 | Delaware | $82,161 |
| 37 | Missouri | $85,073 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $80,307 |
| 39 | Iowa | $82,873 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $81,014 |
| 41 | Vermont | $81,495 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $82,076 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $81,512 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $79,969 |
| 45 | Indiana | $78,068 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $80,759 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $78,571 |
| 48 | Kansas | $78,151 |
| 49 | Ohio | $70,365 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $73,653 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $76,074 |
Expert opinions on the best states for tool engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for tool engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
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Updated January 8, 2025