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The average salary for a Tool Maker is around $52,443 per year, or $25 per hour, as of October 2025. This figure can change depending on various factors, including geographical location, industry, and years of experience. For example, Tool Makers in states with a high demand for skilled trade workers often earn more than those in areas with lower demand.
Experience is a significant determinant of salary; entry-level Tool Makers typically earn less than their more seasoned counterparts. Those with specialized skills or certifications tend to command higher wages. Additionally, industries such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing often offer better compensation due to the complexity and precision required in their tooling processes.
Tool Makers in states like California, Massachusetts, and Texas generally see the highest salaries, reflecting the demand for skilled labor in those areas. For those considering a career in this field, location and industry choice are critical for maximizing earning potential.
In summary, the Tool Maker profession provides competitive salaries that can vary significantly based on experience, location, and industry. Understanding these aspects can guide your career decisions and help you find lucrative opportunities.
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The average tool maker salary in Alaska, Utah, and Michigan are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average tool maker salary states are South Dakota, Louisiana, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $57,902 | $27.84 |
| 2 | Utah | $57,915 | $27.84 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $57,753 | $27.77 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $56,528 | $27.18 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $54,821 | $26.36 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $56,588 | $27.21 |
| 7 | Indiana | $53,248 | $25.60 |
| 8 | Iowa | $54,353 | $26.13 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $53,922 | $25.92 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $54,346 | $26.13 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $56,555 | $27.19 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $55,368 | $26.62 |
| 13 | Alabama | $52,279 | $25.13 |
| 14 | Missouri | $53,095 | $25.53 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $52,166 | $25.08 |
| 16 | Ohio | $51,806 | $24.91 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $53,397 | $25.67 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $55,521 | $26.69 |
| 19 | Colorado | $56,610 | $27.22 |
| 20 | Vermont | $53,900 | $25.91 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $53,082 | $25.52 |
| 22 | Idaho | $52,159 | $25.08 |
| 23 | Alaska | $60,810 | $29.24 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $54,995 | $26.44 |
| 25 | Illinois | $50,975 | $24.51 |
| 26 | Nevada | $52,771 | $25.37 |
| 27 | Maine | $50,871 | $24.46 |
| 28 | Kansas | $50,474 | $24.27 |
| 29 | Virginia | $52,221 | $25.11 |
| 30 | Georgia | $52,356 | $25.17 |
| 31 | New York | $53,272 | $25.61 |
| 32 | Delaware | $53,430 | $25.69 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $50,829 | $24.44 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $50,447 | $24.25 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $50,726 | $24.39 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $49,362 | $23.73 |
| 37 | Washington | $53,124 | $25.54 |
| 38 | Arizona | $51,125 | $24.58 |
| 39 | California | $51,211 | $24.62 |
| 40 | Florida | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $53,069 | $25.51 |
| 42 | Oregon | $47,416 | $22.80 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $47,741 | $22.95 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $44,688 | $21.48 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $43,918 | $21.11 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $44,482 | $21.39 |
| 47 | Montana | $45,239 | $21.75 |
| 48 | Texas | $43,959 | $21.13 |
| 49 | Maryland | $46,866 | $22.53 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $43,704 | $21.01 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $42,203 | $20.29 |
The highest-paying cities for tool makers are Sterling Heights, MI, Saint Paul, MN, and Loveland, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sterling Heights, MI | $58,002 | $27.89 |
| 2 | Saint Paul, MN | $57,782 | $27.78 |
| 3 | Loveland, CO | $56,617 | $27.22 |
| 4 | Lincoln, NE | $56,563 | $27.19 |
| 5 | Peabody, MA | $55,305 | $26.59 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,867 | $26.38 |
| 7 | Greenville, SC | $54,501 | $26.20 |
| 8 | Waterbury, CT | $53,334 | $25.64 |
| 9 | Renton, WA | $53,274 | $25.61 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $52,888 | $25.43 |
| 11 | Rochester, NY | $52,494 | $25.24 |
| 12 | Alpharetta, GA | $52,458 | $25.22 |
| 13 | Virginia Beach, VA | $52,362 | $25.17 |
| 14 | Kettering, OH | $51,609 | $24.81 |
| 15 | Maryville, TN | $51,084 | $24.56 |
| 16 | Niles, IL | $51,048 | $24.54 |
| 17 | Burbank, CA | $50,802 | $24.42 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,609 | $24.33 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | $50,439 | $24.25 |
| 20 | Conway, AR | $47,783 | $22.97 |
A tool maker's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $52,443 | $4,370 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
The highest paying types of tool makers are tool specialist, tool designer, and jig builder.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Machinist | $52,077 | $4,340 | $25.04 | 83,042 |
| Tool And Die Designer | $45,993 | $3,833 | $22.11 | 52,308 |
| Tool Technician | $42,908 | $3,576 | $20.63 | 78,258 |
| Tool Designer | $64,763 | $5,397 | $31.14 | 51,666 |
| Tool And Die Maker | $52,956 | $4,413 | $25.46 | 18,971 |
| Mold Maker | $48,841 | $4,070 | $23.48 | 13,896 |
Top companies hiring tool makers now:
Tool maker salaries at General Electric and Sloan Valve are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average tool maker salary at companies like Corning Incorporated and Silgan Holdings are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Electric | $61,469 | $29.55 |
| 2 | Sloan Valve | $61,123 | $29.39 |
| 3 | Corning Incorporated | $60,901 | $29.28 |
| 4 | Silgan Holdings | $59,408 | $28.56 |
| 5 | ESPO | $59,054 | $28.39 |
| 6 | Hopkins Manufacturing | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| 7 | Tiffany & Co. | $58,637 | $28.19 |
| 8 | West Pharmaceutical Services | $58,630 | $28.19 |
| 9 | Teledyne Technologies Incorporated | $58,400 | $28.08 |
| 10 | Cummins | $57,958 | $27.86 |
| 11 | ITW | $57,825 | $27.80 |
| 12 | Crane Co. | $57,695 | $27.74 |
| 13 | Cyient | $57,681 | $27.73 |
| 14 | Silgan Containers | $57,511 | $27.65 |
| 15 | Cardone Industries | $57,492 | $27.64 |
| 16 | A-dec | $57,434 | $27.61 |
| 17 | Tenneco | $57,316 | $27.56 |
| 18 | Lockheed Martin | $57,221 | $27.51 |
| 19 | Jabil | $57,135 | $27.47 |
| 20 | L3Harris | $57,121 | $27.46 |
The average tool maker salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $57,697 | $27.74 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $54,188 | $26.05 |
| 3 | Technology | $54,120 | $26.02 |
| 4 | Professional | $54,016 | $25.97 |
The average tool maker salary has risen by $7,767 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average tool maker earned $44,676 annually, but today, they earn $52,443 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for tool makers over the last decade.
Compare tool maker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare tool maker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,400 | $25.21 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $51,600 | $24.83 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $50,500 | $24.29 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $50,300 | $24.16 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $48,900 | $23.51 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerotek | Tool Maker | Conroe, TX | 06/26/2025 | $62,610 |
| Hirenow Medical Solutions | Tool Maker A | Franklin Park, IL | 06/26/2025 | $73,212 |
| Aerotek | Tool Maker | Vadnais Heights, MN | 06/20/2025 | $70,000 |
| Harper International | Tool Maker | Renton, WA | 06/20/2025 | $58,436 |
| Carlson Tool | Lead Tool Maker-1St. Shift | Cedarburg, WI | 06/18/2025 | $66,784 |
| Barton Staffing Solutions | Tool Maker Machinist (Ppg#334947) | Franklin Park, IL | 06/18/2025 | $73,212 |
| Pps-Hps | Tool Maker | Cleveland, OH | 06/15/2025 | $73,045 |
| Hach Company | Tool Maker II (2ND. Shift) | Loveland, CO | 06/13/2025 | $61,608 |
| Area Temps, Inc. | Tool Maker/Manual Machinist | Cleveland, OH | 06/10/2025 | $56,349 |
| Veralto Corp | Tool Maker II (2ND. Shift) | Loveland, CO | 06/06/2025 | $61,608 |
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