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The differences between tool makers and mold makers 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 maker and a mold maker. Additionally, a tool maker has an average salary of $52,443, which is higher than the $48,841 average annual salary of a mold maker.
The top three skills for a tool maker include grinders, jigs and hand tools. The most important skills for a mold maker are grinders, plastic injection molds, and cnc machines.
| Tool Maker | Mold Maker | |
| Yearly salary | $52,443 | $48,841 |
| Hourly rate | $25.21 | $23.48 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 18,166 | 13,896 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Average age | 54 | 54 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The job of a toolmaker is to make precision tools, holding devices, and special guides that are used in the manufacturing process. You will be responsible for repairing, maintaining, and improving jigs, fixtures, and fittings for press tools and all tooling dies, conducting routine regrinding and servicing of tools, and ensuring compliance with all quality standard regulations. In addition, you may be tasked to operate lifting equipment and forklift truck and document die history and other relevant records. You will also be responsible for conducting preventative maintenance.
A Mold Maker creates, adjusts, inspects, maintains, and repairs molds and production equipment. They use various machines, such as lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, and jig borders.
Tool makers and mold makers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tool Maker | Mold Maker | |
| Average salary | $52,443 | $48,841 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $68,000 | Between $34,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sterling Heights, MI | Monterey, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | General Electric | Vicor |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a tool maker and a mold maker in terms of educational background:
| Tool Maker | Mold Maker | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tool makers' and mold makers' demographics:
| Tool Maker | Mold Maker | |
| Average age | 54 | 54 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |