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The differences between tool makers and tool technicians 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 technician. Additionally, a tool maker has an average salary of $52,443, which is higher than the $42,908 average annual salary of a tool technician.
The top three skills for a tool maker include grinders, jigs and hand tools. The most important skills for a tool technician are grinders, hand tools, and CNC.
| Tool Maker | Tool Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $52,443 | $42,908 |
| Hourly rate | $25.21 | $20.63 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 18,166 | 78,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| 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.
Tool technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for repairing a variety of pneumatic and hand tools as well as disassemble defective electrical equipment in a manufacturing firm using these hand tools. These technicians are required to coordinate with other areas of the company to schedule and perform preventive maintenance duties. They must provide support for CNC operators by setting up the caliper and micrometer of all the CNC machines. Tool technicians must also assist coworkers in ordering materials and purchasing machine parts.
Tool makers and tool technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tool Maker | Tool Technician | |
| Average salary | $52,443 | $42,908 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $68,000 | Between $29,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sterling Heights, MI | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Indiana |
| Best paying company | General Electric | Rivian |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a tool maker and a tool technician in terms of educational background:
| Tool Maker | Tool Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tool makers' and tool technicians' demographics:
| Tool Maker | Tool Technician | |
| Average age | 54 | 54 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| 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, 84.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |