51 Series · SOC 51-4111

Tool and Die Makers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$64,050
Median / year
+1.4%
2024→2025
$92,680
Top 10% earn
-10.8%
Growth '24–'34
56,930
Estimated US jobs

Tool and Die Makers earn a median of $64,050 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $64,050, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $44,680 (10th percentile) to $92,680 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 56,930 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Washington ($109,390).

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Tool and Die Makers earn a median of $64,050, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 55% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #11 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 10.8% by 2034.

$64,050
Median annual wage
Top 45%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#11 of 105
in Production
2.1×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Washington at $109,390. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Tool and Die Makers moved from $53,920 in May 2019 to $64,050 in May 2025 (+18.8%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Tool and Die Makers sits -5.7 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Tool and Die Makers (SOC 51-4111) has a national median of $64,050 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $44,680 to $92,680, and the published mean is $66,860. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 56,930 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 46 state or territory areas and 229 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $63,180 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $64,050 in May 2025, a rise of $870 (+1.4%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -10.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 4,700 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as long-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $109,390, which is +71% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $116,850. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 56,930 jobs Median $64,050/yr

Median Salary

$64,050

per year

Median Hourly

$30.79/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$66,860

average

Employment

56,930

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Tool and Die Makers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$64,050 Top 45% higher than 55% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 (this entry) 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$64,050 · 55th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Tool and Die Makers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Tool and Die Makers sits on the slower-growing side at -10.8% growth and $64,050 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Miscellaneous Assemb… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $44650First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74450Welders, Cutters, So… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.2% · Median annual wage: $53750Packaging and Fillin… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $43220Production Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.5% · Median annual wage: $40110Electrical, Electron… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $45850Bakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $37160Laundry and Dry-Clea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.4% · Median annual wage: $34890Food Batchmakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.9% · Median annual wage: $42290Cutting, Punching, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.1% · Median annual wage: $46330Computer Numerically… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.7% · Median annual wage: $50690Helpers--Production … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.9% · Median annual wage: $39070Coating, Painting, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $48250Molding, Coremaking,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.8% · Median annual wage: $44350Meat, Poultry, and F… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.5% · Median annual wage: $38300Printing Press Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.1% · Median annual wage: $45780Chemical Equipment O… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58040Butchers and Meat Cu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $40140Water and Wastewater… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.5% · Median annual wage: $60020Multiple Machine Too… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.5% · Median annual wage: $47180Sewing Machine Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.8% · Median annual wage: $36670Paper Goods Machine … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.3% · Median annual wage: $50270Tool and Die Makers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.8% · Median annual wage: $64050
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Tool and Die Makers sits on the slower-growing side at -10.8% growth and $64,050 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
  • Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
  • Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
  • Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
  • Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
  • Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
  • Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
  • Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
  • Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
  • Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
  • Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
  • Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
  • Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
  • Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
  • Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
  • Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
  • Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
  • Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
  • Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
  • Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
  • Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270
  • Tool and Die Makers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $64050

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-10.8%

Declining

Annual Openings

4,700

per year (projected)

Employment Change

-6,000

55,200 (2024) → 49,300 (2034)

Typical Education

Postsecondary nondegree award

On-the-Job Training

Long-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Production Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Tool and Die Makers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.3
Operation and Control 3.3
Quality Control Analysis 3.3
Critical Thinking 3.1
Monitoring 3.1
Equipment Selection 3.1
Judgment and Decision Making 3.1
Time Management 3.1
Active Listening 3.0
Active Learning 3.0

Knowledge Areas

Mechanical 4.5
Mathematics 3.5
Production and Processing 3.5
Design 3.4
English Language 3.0
Engineering and Technology 2.9
Education and Training 2.8
Computers and Electronics 2.6
Customer and Personal Service 2.4
Administration and Management 2.3

Key Tasks

  • Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.
  • Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.
  • 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.
  • Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools, using machine tools, hand tools, or welders.
  • Inspect finished dies for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects.
  • Select metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness or heat tolerance.
  • Lift, position, and secure machined parts on surface plates or worktables, using hoists, vises, v-blocks, or angle plates.
  • File, grind, shim, and adjust different parts to properly fit them together.
  • Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools, using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, emery cloths, or power grinders.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$44,680
25th$51,490
Median$64,050
75th$78,770
90th$92,680

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$21.48
25th$24.75
Median$30.79
75th$37.87
90th$44.56

Tool and Die Makers pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $50,290National median - 2016: $51,060National median - 2017: $52,480National median - 2018: $52,750National median - 2019: $53,920National median - 2020: $54,760National median - 2021: $57,000National median - 2022: $59,800National median - 2023: $61,490National median - 2024: $63,180National median - 2025: $64,050$64,050
National median annual wage for Tool and Die Makers, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $50,290
2016 $51,060
2017 $52,480
2018 $52,750
2019 $53,920
2020 $54,760
2021 $57,000
2022 $59,800
2023 $61,490
2024 $63,180
2025 $64,050

2015 median

$50,290

2025 median

$64,050

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$10,130 (+18.8%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+2.9%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Tool and Die Makers by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $50,290 First banked release 74,510
May 2016 $51,060 +1.5% 72,210
May 2017 $52,480 +2.8% 73,510
May 2018 $52,750 +0.5% 72,700
May 2019 $53,920 Classification break 70,770
May 2020 $54,760 +1.6% 61,190
May 2021 $57,000 +4.1% 63,630
May 2022 $59,800 +4.9% 61,730
May 2023 $61,490 +2.8% 58,150
May 2024 $63,180 +2.7% 55,130
May 2025 $64,050 +1.4% 56,930

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $50,290 in May 2015 to $64,050 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +2.9% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 70,770 in May 2019 to 56,930 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 46 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Washington $109,390 +71% above national
2 Kansas $83,890 +31% above national
3 Maine $79,910 +25% above national
4 Connecticut $77,540 +21% above national
5 California $77,030 +20% above national
6 New Jersey $74,460 +16% above national
7 Oregon $73,930 +15% above national
8 North Dakota $73,130 +14% above national
9 Minnesota $71,020 +11% above national
10 New Hampshire $69,910 +9% above national
11 Vermont $69,300 +8% above national
12 Nebraska $69,150 +8% above national
13 Wisconsin $68,120 +6% above national
14 New York $68,080 +6% above national
15 Indiana $68,050 +6% above national
16 Massachusetts $67,230 +5% above national
17 Kentucky $66,570 +4% above national
18 Oklahoma $65,870 +3% above national
19 Michigan $65,590 +2% above national
20 South Carolina $65,250 +2% above national
21 Iowa $65,000 +1% above national
22 Alabama $64,800 +1% above national
23 Virginia $64,050 same as national
24 Florida $63,890 same as national
25 Colorado $63,800 same as national
26 Rhode Island $63,430 1% below national
27 Ohio $62,280 3% below national
28 Nevada $61,350 4% below national
29 Illinois $61,170 4% below national
30 Pennsylvania $61,160 5% below national
31 North Carolina $61,060 5% below national
32 Missouri $60,810 5% below national
33 Tennessee $60,760 5% below national
34 Georgia $60,020 6% below national
35 South Dakota $59,770 7% below national
36 Arizona $59,140 8% below national
37 Maryland $58,110 9% below national
38 Mississippi $57,980 9% below national
39 Idaho $57,800 10% below national
40 Arkansas $56,840 11% below national
41 Utah $56,740 11% below national
42 Texas $55,470 13% below national
43 New Mexico $47,960 25% below national
44 Louisiana $46,950 27% below national
45 West Virginia $46,190 28% below national
46 Puerto Rico $37,820 41% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 166 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $116,850 +82% above national
2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $97,560 +52% above national
3 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $87,240 +36% above national
4 Kansas City, MO-KS $85,740 +34% above national
5 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $85,010 +33% above national
6 Lima, OH $84,730 +32% above national
7 Wichita, KS $83,890 +31% above national
8 Lexington-Fayette, KY $83,510 +30% above national
9 Stockton-Lodi, CA $82,820 +29% above national
10 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $81,510 +27% above national
11 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $80,060 +25% above national
12 Lincoln, NE $80,030 +25% above national
13 Portland-South Portland, ME $79,910 +25% above national
14 Ogden, UT $79,480 +24% above national
15 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $79,020 +23% above national
16 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $78,960 +23% above national
17 Burlington, NC $78,140 +22% above national
18 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $78,060 +22% above national
19 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $78,020 +22% above national
20 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $77,780 +21% above national
21 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $77,620 +21% above national
22 New Haven, CT $77,410 +21% above national
23 Savannah, GA $77,040 +20% above national
24 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $76,420 +19% above national
25 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $76,380 +19% above national
26 Sheboygan, WI $75,490 +18% above national
27 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $75,250 +17% above national
28 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $74,840 +17% above national
29 Jackson, MS $74,560 +16% above national
30 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $74,320 +16% above national
31 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $74,070 +16% above national
32 Oklahoma City, OK $73,760 +15% above national
33 Jacksonville, FL $73,250 +14% above national
34 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $73,170 +14% above national
35 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $73,120 +14% above national
36 Huntsville, AL $73,050 +14% above national
37 Appleton, WI $73,010 +14% above national
38 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $72,390 +13% above national
39 Saginaw, MI $71,910 +12% above national
40 Columbus, IN $71,180 +11% above national
41 Columbia, SC $70,620 +10% above national
42 Bowling Green, KY $69,790 +9% above national
43 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $69,690 +9% above national
44 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $69,570 +9% above national
45 Bay City, MI $69,240 +8% above national
46 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $69,210 +8% above national
47 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $68,290 +7% above national
48 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $68,120 +6% above national
49 Richmond, VA $68,000 +6% above national
50 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $67,830 +6% above national
51 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $67,650 +6% above national
52 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $67,130 +5% above national
53 Binghamton, NY $66,880 +4% above national
54 Tulsa, OK $66,700 +4% above national
55 Rochester, MN $66,680 +4% above national
56 Toledo, OH $66,630 +4% above national
57 Omaha, NE-IA $66,420 +4% above national
58 York-Hanover, PA $66,320 +4% above national
59 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $66,240 +3% above national
60 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $66,190 +3% above national
61 Manchester-Nashua, NH $66,140 +3% above national
62 Madison, WI $65,900 +3% above national
63 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $65,660 +3% above national
64 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $65,590 +2% above national
65 Sandusky, OH $65,460 +2% above national
66 Reading, PA $65,440 +2% above national
67 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $65,230 +2% above national
68 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $64,920 +1% above national
69 Birmingham, AL $64,800 +1% above national
70 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $64,650 +1% above national
71 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $64,530 +1% above national
72 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $64,460 +1% above national
73 Decatur, IL $64,410 +1% above national
74 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $64,400 +1% above national
75 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $64,370 same as national
76 Bloomington, IL $64,320 same as national
77 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $64,270 same as national
78 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $64,270 same as national
79 Green Bay, WI $64,110 same as national
80 Cleveland, OH $64,070 same as national
81 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $64,050 same as national
82 Syracuse, NY $64,010 same as national
83 Corpus Christi, TX $63,890 same as national
84 Erie, PA $63,740 same as national
85 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $63,720 1% below national
86 Owensboro, KY $63,720 1% below national
87 Wausau, WI $63,570 1% below national
88 Jackson, MI $63,410 1% below national
89 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $63,330 1% below national
90 Dubuque, IA $63,290 1% below national
91 Traverse City, MI $63,260 1% below national
92 Eau Claire, WI $63,250 1% below national
93 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $63,240 1% below national
94 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $63,230 1% below national
95 Knoxville, TN $63,180 1% below national
96 Cedar Rapids, IA $63,140 1% below national
97 Peoria, IL $62,950 2% below national
98 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $62,690 2% below national
99 Springfield, MA $62,620 2% below national
100 Kenosha, WI $62,550 2% below national
101 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $62,540 2% below national
102 Battle Creek, MI $62,440 3% below national
103 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $62,440 3% below national
104 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $62,040 3% below national
105 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $61,940 3% below national
106 Montgomery, AL $61,790 4% below national
107 Worcester, MA $61,770 4% below national
108 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $61,760 4% below national
109 Chattanooga, TN-GA $61,720 4% below national
110 Niles, MI $61,690 4% below national
111 Janesville-Beloit, WI $61,670 4% below national
112 Lebanon, PA $61,570 4% below national
113 Akron, OH $61,440 4% below national
114 Spartanburg, SC $61,420 4% below national
115 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $61,370 4% below national
116 Reno, NV $61,350 4% below national
117 Fort Wayne, IN $61,340 4% below national
118 Fond du Lac, WI $61,330 4% below national
119 Muncie, IN $61,310 4% below national
120 Ann Arbor, MI $61,250 4% below national
121 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $61,180 4% below national
122 Pittsburgh, PA $61,160 5% below national
123 Greensboro-High Point, NC $61,090 5% below national
124 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $61,020 5% below national
125 Asheville, NC $60,950 5% below national
126 Evansville, IN $60,890 5% below national
127 Monroe, MI $60,840 5% below national
128 Rochester, NY $60,820 5% below national
129 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $60,760 5% below national
130 Raleigh-Cary, NC $60,590 5% below national
131 Youngstown-Warren, OH $60,570 5% below national
132 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $60,420 6% below national
133 Decatur, AL $60,410 6% below national
134 Lancaster, PA $60,280 6% below national
135 Springfield, OH $60,220 6% below national
136 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $59,970 6% below national
137 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $59,910 6% below national
138 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $59,730 7% below national
139 St. Louis, MO-IL $59,610 7% below national
140 Columbus, OH $59,350 7% below national
141 Canton-Massillon, OH $59,000 8% below national
142 Mansfield, OH $58,710 8% below national
143 Springfield, MO $58,540 9% below national
144 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $58,110 9% below national
145 Champaign-Urbana, IL $58,000 9% below national
146 Gainesville, GA $57,560 10% below national
147 Winston-Salem, NC $57,510 10% below national
148 Jackson, TN $57,240 11% below national
149 Johnson City, TN $56,460 12% below national
150 Joplin, MO-KS $55,930 13% below national
151 Tucson, AZ $54,920 14% below national
152 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $53,720 16% below national
153 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $53,330 17% below national
154 Rockford, IL $52,900 17% below national
155 Modesto, CA $52,300 18% below national
156 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $50,410 21% below national
157 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $50,320 21% below national
158 Williamsport, PA $49,910 22% below national
159 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $49,690 22% below national
160 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $48,730 24% below national
161 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $48,680 24% below national
162 Morristown, TN $48,400 24% below national
163 El Paso, TX $45,800 28% below national
164 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $37,910 41% below national
165 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $37,800 41% below national
166 Ponce, PR $36,400 43% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($64,050 here) and reported employment (56,930 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Tool and Die Makers make?
The median annual salary for Tool and Die Makers is $64,050 ($30.79/hour). The salary range spans from $44,680 at the 10th percentile to $92,680 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Tool and Die Makers pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $64,050, Tool and Die Makers pay is higher than 55% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Tool and Die Makers the most?
Washington pays the highest median salary for Tool and Die Makers at $109,390/year, which is +71% above the national median.
What education do Tool and Die Makers need?
BLS assigns Tool and Die Makers to Postsecondary nondegree award for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Long-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Tool and Die Makers?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Tool and Die Makers in this release. WageDex shows the Production Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Tool and Die Makers a good career?
Employment for Tool and Die Makers is projected to decline 10.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 4,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Tool and Die Makers pay vary by state?
Tool and Die Makers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $109,390/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $37,820/year. BLS data covers 46 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Tool and Die Makers?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $116,850/year. BLS reports a median for 166 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Tool and Die Makers pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $78,770/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $109,390/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.