Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between value engineers and tool engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a value engineer, becoming a tool engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a tool engineer has an average salary of $101,135, which is higher than the $88,531 average annual salary of a value engineer.
The top three skills for a value engineer include project management, CAD and sigma. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.
| Value Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,531 | $101,135 |
| Hourly rate | $42.56 | $48.62 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 47,777 | 98,936 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A value engineer specializes in designing and developing procedures and strategies to enhance the value of projects and operations in an organization. Although the extent of their responsibilities varies on their company or industry of employment, it usually includes conducting research and analysis, reviewing documentation, developing tools, creating and presenting financial models, and help in developing processes and practices to optimize operations. Moreover, a value engineer typically works in a team environment, which requires an active communication line for a safe and efficient workflow.
A tooling engineer is responsible for creating and adjusting tools or parts for cars, heavy equipment, and other products that need customized or personalized components. Your duties and responsibilities will include creating design blueprints, using computer-aided (CAD) software to develop two- and three-dimensional prints, and validating and evaluating products. As a tooling engineer, it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with operational standards such as the ISO 9000. You also have to provide technical assistance to manufacturing personnel and quality assurance.
Value engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Value Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,531 | $101,135 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $124,000 | Between $75,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a value engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:
| Value Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between value engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:
| Value Engineer | Tool Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 12.2% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |