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The differences between tool engineers and tool designers 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 engineer and a tool designer. Additionally, a tool engineer has an average salary of $101,135, which is higher than the $64,763 average annual salary of a tool designer.
The top three skills for a tool engineer include python, java and CAD. The most important skills for a tool designer are jigs, assembly fixtures, and aerospace.
| Tool Engineer | Tool Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,135 | $64,763 |
| Hourly rate | $48.62 | $31.14 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 98,936 | 51,666 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 41 | 54 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A tooling engineer is responsible for creating and adjusting tools or parts for cars, heavy equipment, and other products that need customized or personalized components. Your duties and responsibilities will include creating design blueprints, using computer-aided (CAD) software to develop two- and three-dimensional prints, and validating and evaluating products. As a tooling engineer, it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with operational standards such as the ISO 9000. You also have to provide technical assistance to manufacturing personnel and quality assurance.
A tool designer is an expert who works to engineer a new equipment's initial design used in industrial manufacturing. Tool designers design machine cutting tools like drills, broaches, and milling-machine cutters. They apply geometric and algebraic formulas along with standard tool engineering data for tool configuration development. Also, they modify tool designs based on production service data or trial for tool life performance and life improvement.
Tool engineers and tool designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tool Engineer | Tool Designer | |
| Average salary | $101,135 | $64,763 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $135,000 | Between $47,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Entegris |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a tool engineer and a tool designer in terms of educational background:
| Tool Engineer | Tool Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | - |
Here are the differences between tool engineers' and tool designers' demographics:
| Tool Engineer | Tool Designer | |
| Average age | 41 | 54 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 3% |