How to hire a tool technician

How to hire a tool technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tool technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a tool technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tool technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a tool technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The tool technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A tool technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, tool technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of tool technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Tool Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Tool Technician	Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.	$13-29
   Grinder	Depending on the industry, a grinder has a diverse range of duties. Typically, they oversee setting up and operating bearing grinders, cam grinders, and CNC lathes... Show more	$12-19
   Maintenance Machinist	A Maintenance Machinist is responsible for implementing and maintaining industrial machinery. Their primary duties include investigating and diagnosing equipment failures and performing corrective actions.	$17-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Grinders
   • Hand Tools
   • CNC
   • Calipers
   • Micrometers
   • Jigs
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Machine Tools
   • MIG
   • Injection Molds
   • Machine Shop
   • EDM
   • Cad Cam
   • OSHA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Use specialize tools and machinery (CNC milling machine, manual lathe, manual milling machine and surface grinders . )
   • Program and operate wire EDM machine, milling machines, drill presses, surface grinders, lathes and jig grinders.
   • Perform mig, tig, and stick welds.
   • Skil welder utilizing TIG, MIG and stick welding processes.
   • Work on and troubleshoot the press machinery using calipers, micrometers and other precision tools.
   • Learned to use a TIG welder . )

   More tool technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your tool technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A tool technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, tool technicians' average salary in florida is 36% less than in indiana.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tool technicians 52% less than senior-level tool technicians.
   • Certifications. A tool technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a tool technician's salary.

   Average tool technician salary

   $42,908yearly

   $20.63 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tool technician salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average tool technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Indiana	$53,529	$26
   2	Illinois	$48,546	$23
   3	Ohio	$46,968	$23
   4	North Dakota	$44,923	$22
   5	Michigan	$44,908	$22
   6	California	$44,524	$21
   7	Utah	$44,518	$21
   8	Georgia	$44,000	$21
   9	Iowa	$43,690	$21
   10	Minnesota	$42,615	$20
   11	Tennessee	$42,553	$20
   12	Kentucky	$42,290	$20
   13	Arizona	$41,876	$20
   14	Washington	$41,420	$20
   15	Colorado	$39,417	$19
   16	Alabama	$38,972	$19
   17	Kansas	$38,837	$19
   18	South Carolina	$36,834	$18
   19	Texas	$35,188	$17
   20	Louisiana	$34,837	$17

   Average tool technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Rivian	$87,164	$41.91	6
   2	Corning Incorporated	$82,605	$39.71	12
   3	Tesla	$75,486	$36.29
   4	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$70,340	$33.82
   5	Avid	$69,866	$33.59
   6	Cummins	$66,950	$32.19	9
   7	Caterpillar	$64,982	$31.24	27
   8	Lear	$64,855	$31.18	7
   9	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$64,318	$30.92	10
   10	Johnson Controls	$63,855	$30.70	21
   11	IPG Photonics	$63,499	$30.53	4
   12	Oil States International	$63,354	$30.46	11
   13	GPAC	$63,340	$30.45
   14	Worthington Industries	$62,865	$30.22	6
   15	Halliburton	$62,572	$30.08	7
   16	Cook Children's Medical Center	$62,246	$29.93	1
   17	Cirrus Aircraft	$62,242	$29.92	3
   18	Precision Castparts	$61,922	$29.77	29
   19	Dover	$61,664	$29.65	2
   20	West Pharmaceutical Services	$61,499	$29.57	8

4. Writing a tool technician job description

   A good tool technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a tool technician job description:

   Tool technician job description example

   Since 1969, Creative Foam has been a leading supplier of cellular and non-cellular foam and plastic products for customers in the automotive, medical and composite markets. We have manufacturing locations nation-wide and in Mexico. Our longevity and success are attributable to our innovative people, an abiding passion for quality and an unwavering commitment to our customers. Creative Foam offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits plan, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) and tuition reimbursement.

   
   

   Competitive Benefits & Compensation Package

   · Paid Time Off (PTO)

   · World class benefits

   · Team environment

   · Safe working environments

   · Company paid short term disability, long term disability, and AD&D insurance

   · 401k with employer match

   · Tuition reimbursement program

   · Dependent education program

   · Wellness program

   · Paid training

   · Career development opportunities

   · Referral bonus for all full-time referrals

   · Competitive wages

   · Annual opportunities for increases and bonuses

   
   

   Pay

   Pay commensurate with education and experience.

   Creative Foam wants to be a great service provider to our customers. We recognize we can only do that if we are a great employer. Our success is driven by the success of our employees.

   Our culture focuses on these core values:

   • Be Inclusive- Make a difference as a TEAM, work collaboratively and support others in our effort to greatness. Constantly strive for perfection and quickly learn from our mistakes.
   • Be Inventive- Never stop learning and push the TEAM to strive towards sustained excellence. Aim to provide our customers with the most creative solutions in the market.
   • Be Responsible- Maintain an equitable relationship with our customers, employees, stakeholders and communities as we develop as a TEAM.
   • Be Relentless- Demand more from yourself and the TEAM than you think is imaginable, this will drive change and only then will we achieve our goals.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   MAJOR FUNCTION:

   Under limited supervision, builds and repairs tooling, steel rule dies and fixtures in a timely and efficient manner to support the requirements of manufacturing in meeting the customers demands. This is a 2nd shift position.. 2:30 pm- 11:00 pm.

   
   

   Summary of attributes and skills:

   · Basic mechanical abilities with hand tools

   · Reads basic prints

   · Knows how to read measuring devices including micrometers and calipers

   · Competent at basic set ups on CNC machines

   · Capable welder

   · Knowledgeable on manual machines (saws, grinders, mills and lathes)

   · Works well in a team environment with a willingness to learn

   Job tasks:

   · Manufacture and assemble molding tools

   · Set up and fixtures of CNC’s

   · Bench and blend tools

   · Housekeeping and organization of the tool room

   · Works with the engineering team on manufacturing feasibility

   · Troubleshooting and process efficiency improvement

   · Basic machining on the mill and lathe

   Company relationship rolls:

   · Reports directly to the tool room supervisor

   · Works with engineering and the tooling group

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right tool technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your tool technician job on Zippia to find and recruit tool technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit tool technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new tool technician

   Once you've found the tool technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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