How To Become A Tool Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a tool specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Tool specialists are hired to work on industrial sites to tend to machinery. With ample theoretical and technical knowledge, they adjust, test, and calibrate tools used in various industrial or production processes. They carry out their tasks under the supervision of engineers or scientists on location.

You will have to follow blueprints and project specifications while doing your work here and assembling and checking equipment for correct functioning. You might be required to redesign equipment according to improved production methods. You will tend to machines during regular functioning and check dials and meters to ensure processes are following the product design.

You will analyze data you have recorded while testing the equipment and preparing reports using the results to guarantee safe operations. You will be responsible for operating machinery as well, such as drills, grinders, engine lathes, and many more.

ScoreTool SpecialistUS Average

Salary

6.6

Avg. Salary $84,797

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.4

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 2.70%

Black or African American 2.40%

Hispanic or Latino 6.39%

Unknown 2.81%

White 84.93%

Gender

female 10.39%

male 89.61%

Age - 57

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 57

Stress level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a tool specialist

Explore tool specialist education requirements

Most common tool specialist degrees

Bachelor's

33.7 %

Associate

28.2 %

High School Diploma

21.4 %

Start to develop specific tool specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Calipers	11.04%
Safety Procedures	6.55%
Hand Tools	6.35%
Scaffolding	5.94%
CMM	5.91%

Complete relevant tool specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tool specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tool specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tool specialist resumes.

Research tool specialist duties and responsibilities

Comply with all applicable FAA regulations.
Assist in training on running CNC machines.
Operate and set up a CNC machine.
Provide tool design inputs that enable process friendly windows.

Prepare your tool specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tool specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a tool specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable tool specialist resume templates

Build a professional tool specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your tool specialist resume.

Apply for tool specialist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a tool specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do tool specialists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Tool specialist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019

Pros

I love the creativity. Every job is mostly different. Sometimes you have jobs that are monotonous. Like " OPEN" signs for instance. But most of my buyers have their own logos or designs they would like rendered in neon. It's the diversification that makes this job fulfilling.

Cons

The fact that neon is becoming a dying art. I have been doing this for over forty years. This has always been my art and my passion. I mostly repair beer signs to maintain a living these days. I never made a lot of money doing this. But I was able to maintain a living. I would rather make little money doing something I love than to make a lot of money doing something I hate.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019