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The differences between tool makers and tool specialists 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 tool specialist. Additionally, a tool specialist has an average salary of $84,797, which is higher than the $52,443 average annual salary of a tool maker.
The top three skills for a tool maker include grinders, jigs and hand tools. The most important skills for a tool specialist are calipers, safety procedures, and hand tools.
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 Tool Specialist designs and carries out maintenance on tools that are used on certain manufacturing equipment and machines. Your key role is to track data on fixtures on tooling and create an estimated cost for repairs, help in assembling new tools as well as carrying out other duties in a manufacturing environment. Besides, you will be responsible for giving your input in the pricing of tools, conducting product reviews, and monitoring the maintenance of tools. You will also troubleshoot parts of your samples or newer parts when they malfunction.
Tool makers and tool specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tool Maker | Tool Specialist | |
| Average salary | $52,443 | $84,797 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $68,000 | Between $62,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sterling Heights, MI | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | General Electric | GoPro |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a tool maker and a tool specialist in terms of educational background:
| Tool Maker | Tool Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tool makers' and tool specialists' demographics:
| Tool Maker | Tool Specialist | |
| Average age | 54 | 54 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% |
| 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, 6.4% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |