Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages O*NET task lead SOC 51-4111

Tool and Die Makers

O*NET task statements lead this Tool and Die Makers card before OEWS pay; neighboring titles include Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, Plant and System Operators, All Other, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Tool and Die Makers: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($123K) , Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators ($60K) , Plant and System Operators, All Other ($62K) , Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Tool and Die Makers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-4111 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as ca…
  2. 2. Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders to cut, bo…
  3. 3. Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications
  4. 4. Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies
  5. 5. Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools, using machine tools, hand tools, or welders
  6. 6. Inspect finished dies for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects
  7. 7. Select metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness or heat tolerance
  8. 8. Lift, position, and secure machined parts on surface plates or worktables, using hoists, vises, v-blocks, or angle plates
  9. 9. File, grind, shim, and adjust different parts to properly fit them together
  10. 10. Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools, using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, emery cloths, or power grinders
  11. 11. Measure, mark, and scribe metal or plastic stock to lay out machining, using instruments such as protractors, micrometers, scribes, or ru…
  12. 12. Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary

Tool and Die Makers: O*NET ranks Operations Monitoring first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-4111 - lead skill Operations Monitoring at 3.3 ; lead knowledge Mechanical. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Operations Monitoring 3.3
  2. 2. Operation and Control 3.3
  3. 3. Quality Control Analysis 3.3
  4. 4. Critical Thinking 3.1
  5. 5. Monitoring 3.1
  6. 6. Equipment Selection 3.1
  7. 7. Judgment and Decision Making 3.1
  8. 8. Time Management 3.1

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Mechanical 4.5
  2. 2. Mathematics 3.5
  3. 3. Production and Processing 3.5
  4. 4. Design 3.4
  5. 5. English Language 3.0
  6. 6. Engineering and Technology 2.9
National median after O*NET task lead
$64,050
/year · 12 published task lines above
Lead task: Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as ca…
$64K
National median
↓ -11%
Growth 2024-2034
4,700
Annual openings
56,930
Estimated US jobs
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Highest-pay peer · $123K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Postsecondary nondegree award

Top Paying States for Tool and Die Makers

1. Kansas $83,890
2. Maine $79,910
3. Washington $109,390
4. Minnesota $71,020
5. North Dakota $73,130
6. New Hampshire $69,910
7. California $77,030
8. Oregon $73,930
9. Connecticut $77,540
10. New Jersey $74,460

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Plant and System Operators, All Other $62,470
  2. 2. Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $63,340
  3. 3. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators $122,890
  4. 4. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $60,020
  5. 5. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers $65,380
  6. 6. Power Plant Operators $102,040

O*NET publishes 12 leading task statements for Tool and Die Makers (SOC 51-4111). The national OEWS median is $64,050 inside Production Occupations. Same-group neighbors: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, Plant and System Operators, All Other, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic. Lead published task: Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as ca….

Employment Projections expect -11% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 4,700 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Kansas at $83,890. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators at $122,890. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Tool and Die Makers pay-rank #11 in Production Occupations

Among 105 detailed Production Occupations with a published OEWS median, Tool and Die Makers is pay-rank #11, the upper third of that major group. The order is ROW_NUMBER on national median (title as tiebreak), not a worker-level percentile.

Other upper-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 51-4111 · national median $64,050 · upper third of Production Occupations (#11/105). The day-to-day tasks above set this role apart from peers with a similar title.

Tool and Die Makers salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 51-4111

Kansas · top state for Tool and Die Makers

$84K published median

Maine · #2 state pay

$80K · behind Kansas

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Highest-pay peer vs Tool and Die Makers · $123K

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Lower-pay peer beside Tool and Die Makers · $60K

Compare Tool and Die Makers

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Tool and Die Makers with another occupation →

Role and task next reads

Tool and Die Makers full salary map

State and metro OEWS after the task lead

Compare tasks and pay

Side-by-side with another occupation

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Production Occupations titles sit near Tool and Die Makers at the top of the pay table? ▼
Tool and Die Makers is pay-rank #11 of 105 detailed Production Occupations with an OEWS median, upper third. Nearest upper-third titles: Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic ($64K), Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K), Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers ($63K), Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers ($65K). Rank is ROW_NUMBER on national median.
What do tool and die makers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Tool and Die Makers. Leading ones include: Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as ca…; Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders to cut, bo…; Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications; Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for tool and die makers? ▼
For SOC 51-4111, O*NET importance scores lead with Operations Monitoring (3.3), Operation and Control (3.3), Quality Control Analysis (3.3), Critical Thinking (3.1). Knowledge areas emphasize Mechanical, Mathematics, Production and Processing. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Tool and Die Makers? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $64,050 as the national median for Tool and Die Makers. The published 10th-90th range is $44,680 to $92,680. Beside Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($122,890), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Tool and Die Makers? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Tool and Die Makers is -11%. Projected annual openings: about 4,700. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Tool and Die Makers? ▼
BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Tool and Die Makers. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Tool and Die Makers? ▼
Kansas ($83,890), Maine ($79,910), Washington ($109,390) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Tool and Die Makers card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 51-4111. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Tool and Die Makers. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics