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Tool maker education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, tool makers don't need a college education. The most common degree for tool makers is associate degree with 37% graduates, with only 30% tool maker graduates earning high school diploma. Tool makers who decided to graduate from college often finish Vincennes University or Jackson College. Some good skills to have in this position include grinders, jigs and hand tools.

Popular tool maker certifications include Certified Machine Tool Sales Engineer (CMTSE), Master of Die Casting Tooling, or Master Engine Machinist. To improve tool maker qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in tool maker education paths.

What education do you need to become a tool maker?

What degree do you need to be a tool maker?

The most common degree for tool makers is associate degree, with 37% of tool makers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 30% and high school diploma degree at 13%.
  • Associate, 37%
  • High School Diploma, 30%
  • Bachelor's, 13%
  • Diploma, 9%
  • Other Degrees, 11%

What should I major in to become a tool maker?

You should major in precision metal working to become a tool maker. 36% of tool makers major in precision metal working. Other common majors for a tool maker include business and mechanical engineering.

Best majors for tool makers

20 best online courses for tool makers

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1. Rapid Prototyping and Tooling

coursera

In the Rapid Prototyping and Tooling specialization, students learn how to make effective prototypes. Why is rapid prototyping important, and how does it facilitate the overall engineering design process? At what point in the process should rapid prototyping be employed? How can electronics bring a prototype to the next level? When is it appropriate to make a prototype out of cardboard rather than aluminum? When should you use 3D printing instead of a laser cutter? Real examples provide answers...

2. Web Applications and Command-Line Tools for Data Engineering

coursera

In this fourth course of the Python, Bash and SQL Essentials for Data Engineering Specialization, you will build upon the data engineering concepts introduced in the first three courses to apply Python, Bash and SQL techniques in tackling real-world problems. First, we will dive deeper into leveraging Jupyter notebooks to create and deploy models for machine learning tasks. Then, we will explore how to use Python microservices to break up your data warehouse into small, portable solutions that...

3. Fusion 360 CAD/CAM for CNC routers

udemy
4.5
(397)

Make any part using your CNC router with Fusion 360...

4. Fusion 360 tutorial for CNC machinists

udemy
4.3
(575)

CAD CAM training for CNC machinists using fusion 360...

5. Tools for Data Science

coursera

In order to be successful in Data Science, you need to be skilled with using tools that Data Science professionals employ as part of their jobs. This course teaches you about the popular tools in Data Science and how to use them. You will become familiar with the Data Scientist’s tool kit which includes: Libraries & Packages, Data Sets, Machine Learning Models, Kernels, as well as the various Open source, commercial, Big Data and Cloud-based tools. Work with Jupyter Notebooks, JupyterLab,...

6. Multi-Axis CNC Toolpaths

coursera

Computer Numerical Controlled machines, or CNC for short, can have a nearly endless number of options. Most machines today control tool motion in 3-axes, X, Y and Z, but can be upgraded to include a 4th or 5th axis as well, A and B. Additionally, there are many machines on the market that are already 5-axis capable. The good news is that Autodesk® Fusion 360™ has you covered if you need to control multi-axis positioning or simultaneous motion in all 5 axes at once! Want to take your learning to...

7. OpenAPI Specification & Swagger Tools - Zero To Master

udemy
4.6
(524)

Document, Mock, Test APIs using Open API specification & Swagger Tools. Generate code from Open API. Based on OAS 3 ver...

8. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Systems and Avionics

udemy
4.6
(960)

Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Systems of Airplanes - Hydraulics, Avionics, Electric, Propulsion...

9. Master Pro Tools 11 - A Definitive Pro Tools Course

udemy
4.3
(383)

Master Avid Pro Tools 11. Learn the Audio Production Secrets used by the Pros. An easy to follow Pro Tools tutorial...

10. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Fundamentals and Advanced

udemy
4.6
(2,504)

Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Mechanics of Airplanes - Aerodynamics, Flight Maneuvers, JET Engines...

11. Continuous Improvement Tools

udemy
4.7
(662)

Essential Lean Tools and Techniques for Business Process Improvement, Operational Excellence, and Customer Satisfaction...

12. The Ultimate Swagger Tools Course: Build OpenAPI with Ease

udemy
4.6
(286)

Swagger tutorial for simplified Open API design, documentation, development, & testing - unified tool for Open API...

13. Aerospace Engineering: Airplanes, Airlines and Airports

udemy
4.5
(780)

Understand how Airplanes generate Lift, how Airlines and Airports operate and what is Aerospace Engineering today...

14. CNC Milling machine programming using G-Code

udemy
4.7
(331)

Learning to read and write CNC programs with FANUC G Code has never been so easy...

15. Learn Swagger and the OpenAPI Specification

udemy
4.5
(4,467)

API Definition Files, Tools, and Documentation (OAS 2.0)...

16. Pro Engineer Creo Fundamental 3D design course

udemy
4.3
(1,044)

Learn fundamentals of creo parametric from scratch including part design,drawing,assembly...

17. Introduction to CNC Programming

udemy
4.5
(1,678)

Learn to program CNC Routers and CNC Milling machines that use the GCODE language...

18. ChatGPT Prompt Engineering: 2100+ Prompts & 32 AI Tools

udemy
4.7
(250)

The Art of Prompt Engineering with Most Amazing Resource of 2100+ Prompts that you can Copy-Paste + 32 AI Tools...

19. Basic G-code Programming for CNC Mills.

udemy
4.7
(293)

Learn to Read, Edit and Write G-code programs for 3-axis CNC mills...

20. Mastering the Seven Basic Quality Improvement Tools [2022]

udemy
4.6
(506)

Master the 7 QC tools for process improvement using MS Excel + Certification 2 case studies included...

Average tool maker salary by education level

According to our data, tool makers with a Associate degree earn the highest average salary, at $54,961 annually. Tool makers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $53,148.
Tool maker education levelTool maker salary
High School Diploma or Less$52,469
Bachelor's Degree$53,148
Some College/ Associate Degree$54,961

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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