How much does a tool and die makers make?

The median tool and die makers salary in the United States is $64,050 per year ($30.79/hour). Salaries range from $44,680 (10th percentile) to $92,680 (90th percentile). There are 56,930 tool and die makers jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays tool and die makerss the most?

The highest paying state for tool and die makerss is Washington at $109,390 median salary.

Is tool and die makers a good career?

Tool and Die Makers employment is projected to decline 10.8% from 2024 to 2034 (decline). There are approximately 4,700 job openings per year. Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award.

What interview questions are asked for tool and die makers roles?

Common tool and die makers interview questions include: "Walk me through the last progressive die you built — strip layout, die-clearance calculation, and tryout debug.", "Describe how you'd hold ±0.0002" bore tolerance on a hardened tool-steel component.", "Describe a difficult die failure or mold failure you diagnosed and fixed.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example Big-3 Auto stamping toolrooms (Ford Chicago / Dearborn / Kansas City Stamping, GM Marion / Parma / Lordstown Stamping, Stellantis Warren / Sterling Stamping) typically uses Application + exam + 4-5-year apprenticeship progression.

What certifications should tool and die makerss get?

Top-ROI certifications for tool and die makerss: Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship completion (Tool & Die Maker) (Free — employer-paid apprenticeship; some programs pay $18-38/hr progression across the 4-5-year term); NIMS Machining Level I (13 individual credentials) ($80-150 per individual credential exam; typically employer-paid; 13 credentials × $110 avg = $1,430); NIMS Level II Tool & Die Maker (Progressive Die + Die Manufacturing + Die Fitting + Section Die + Fixture + Mold Making + Mold Fitting) ($80-150 per individual credential exam; typically employer-paid; 7 credentials × $110 avg = $770).

How do you negotiate a tool and die makers salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $64,050, p75 $78,770), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. Given 9 years as an apprenticeship-completed Journeyman Tool & Die Maker at Ford Motor Company Chicago Stamping Plant, NIMS Machining Level I (all 13) + NIMS Level II Tool & Die Maker (Progressive Die + Die Manufacturin...

Tool and Die Makers Salary

Q: What is the career ladder for tool and die makerss?

The typical tool and die makers career ladder: Apprentice Toolmaker (0-5 yrs, $18-38/hr progressing across the apprenticeship = $38-78k + full benefits + tuition support + pension eligibility) → Journeyman Tool & Die Maker (4-10 yrs, $34-42/hr = $72-88k + full UAW-Big-3 or IAMAW-aerospace benefits + pension + tuition support) → Sr Journeyman / Toolroom Lead / Tooling Engineer (8-16 yrs, $75-125k salaried + 5-10% bonus + benefits at aerospace / medical device / Tier-1 auto; $92-118k hourly-with-overtime at Big-3 union) → Tooling Manager / Manufacturing Engineering Manager / Chief Tool Designer (14-22 yrs, $115-185k+ salaried + 12-18% bonus + LTIP + equity at Fortune-500 automotive / aerospace / medical device).

The median tool and die makers salary in the United States is $64,050 per year ($30.79/hour). Salaries range from $44,680 at the entry level to $92,680+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 56,930 tool and die makers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 10.8% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary

$64,050

per year

Hourly Rate

$30.79

per hour

Employment

56,930

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$44,680

25th percentile

$51,490

Median

$64,050

75th percentile

$78,770

90th percentile

$92,680

Job Growth (2024-2034)

-10.8%

Decline

Annual Openings

4,700

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Postsecondary nondegree award

Training Needed

Long-term on-the-job training

Tool and Die Makers Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for tool and die makerss.

Tool and die makers (BLS SOC 51-4111) are the elite precision-machining trade at the top of the manufacturing skilled-trades ladder — building, fitting, and maintaining the stamping dies, injection molds, forging dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, and gauges that produce the parts every manufactured product depends on. Typical seats: Journeyman Tool & Die Maker at a Tier-1 automotive stamping and powertrain supplier (Magna International, Martinrea International, Cosma International, Denso, Aisin, Gestamp, Shiloh Industries, Kirchhoff Automotive, Metalsa) or in-house at a Big-3 auto stamping plant (Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Stellantis, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Honda Manufacturing, Nissan North America); Mold Maker at a plastic-injection tooling shop supplying medical device (Medtronic, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, Boston Scientific, Abbott Diagnostics), consumer product, or aerospace-interior programs; Forging Die Maker at aerospace or heavy-industry forging houses (Precision Castparts / Berkshire Hathaway, Alcoa Forgings, Howmet Aerospace, ATI Metals); Aerospace Toolmaker at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney building assembly jigs and inspection fixtures to AS9100D; Medical-device Toolmaker under ISO 13485 for regulated tooling. BLS reports 56,930 employed with a median of $64,050, p10 $41,020, p90 $92,970+. Entry Apprentice Toolmaker $38-56k; Journeyman Tool & Die Maker $58-82k; Sr Journeyman / Toolroom Lead $75-105k; Tool Room Supervisor / Tooling Engineer $85-125k; Tooling Manager / Chief Tool Designer $115-185k+. The single biggest earnings lever is completing a 4-5-year formal apprenticeship (Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship via NIMS + IAMAW + UBC pathways), stacking NIMS Tool & Die Level 2 credentials on top of CNC EDM (wire + sinker) and CNC milling proficiency, and moving into aerospace AS9100D or medical-device ISO 13485 regulated-tooling work at $85-135k+.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Progressive-die + transfer-die design and build (stamping)

Progressive-die construction — multi-stage die that performs sequential piercing, notching, drawing, forming, and cutoff operations in one press stroke; strip layout with feed-progression, pilot-hole pitch, scrap-web width, tonnage calculation. Transfer-die construction — separate stations with mechanical transfer bars between stations for larger / deeper-drawn stampings. Deep-draw analysis — blank development, draw ratio, wrinkle / tearing failure modes. Die-clearance calculation (typically 5-15% of stock thickness depending on material — cold-rolled steel, HSLA, DP600 / DP780 / DP980 advanced high-strength steel, austenitic stainless, aluminum 5000 / 6000 series). Die-material selection — A2 / D2 / M2 / M4 tool steels for cold-work dies; H13 for hot-work; PM (powder-metallurgy) grades CPM-10V / CPM-M4 for high-abrasion applications.

Plastic-injection mold construction (mold making)

Two-plate mold, three-plate mold, hot-runner mold, unscrewing mold, insert-molding, overmolding, gas-assist, MuCell foam construction. Cavity + core machining to draft-angle spec (typically 1-3° per side); parting-line design; runner + gate design (edge gate, submarine / tunnel gate, hot-tip gate); cooling-channel design for cycle-time optimization; ejector-pin layout. Mold-steel selection — P20 pre-hard, S7, H13, 420 stainless (for medical-grade + optical-clarity applications), NAK80 (for polished-finish cavities), 400-series stainless (for corrosion resistance with PVC / PPA / PPS thermoplastics). SPI (Society of the Plastics Industry) mold-classification standards — Class 101 (over 1M cycles, medical / high-volume), Class 102, Class 103, Class 104. Hot-runner systems — Husky, Mold-Masters, Incoe, Synventive, DME.

CNC EDM (wire + sinker) precision machining

Wire EDM — Makino U6 / U6 H.E.A.T., Sodick AL / AQ series, Mitsubishi MV / MP series, Agie Charmilles CUT series. Programming in Esprit CAM, Peps CAM, or GF Machining Solutions AC CUT Expert. Wire-EDM cut tolerances typically ±0.0002" for finish-cut passes; multi-pass cutting strategy (rough / semi-finish / finish / super-finish). Materials — hardened tool steel (60-64 HRC), carbide, PCD (polycrystalline diamond), Inconel + titanium for aerospace. Sinker EDM — Makino EDNC / EDGE, Sodick AG / AP series, GF Machining AgieCharmilles FORM series. Electrode design and manufacture in copper, graphite (POCO EDM-3 / EDM-200), copper-tungsten. Burn parameters — on-time, off-time, gap voltage, current, servo speed.

CNC milling + turning (multi-axis machining)

3-axis + 5-axis CNC milling on Haas VF / UMC series, Mazak Variaxis / Integrex, DMG Mori DMU / DMC / NHX series, Okuma MB / MU series, Makino F / V / a-series HMCs. Programming in Mastercam, Esprit, HyperMill, PowerMill, NX CAM, GibbsCAM. Toolpath strategies — HSM (high-speed machining) with dynamic-motion adaptive clearing; trochoidal milling for pocket-clearing; barrel-tool finishing for 5-axis surface work; Z-level finishing; scallop-height control for surface-finish target. Tooling — carbide end mills, insert tools, ball-nose finishers, high-feed cutters (Ingersoll, Kennametal, Sandvik Coromant, Iscar, Seco). Turning on live-tool multi-axis lathes for shaft-and-turn work.

Surface grinding + jig grinding + honing (finish operations)

Surface grinding on Chevalier / Okamoto / Kent USA precision surface grinders to ±0.0001" (2.5 μm) flatness and parallelism; wheel dressing (single-point diamond, CVD diamond, rotary dresser); coolant management for thermal-stability. Jig grinding on Moore Jig Grinder / Hauser Jig Grinder for hardened-material internal-diameter finishing at ±0.0001" bore tolerance and Ra 4 μin surface finish. Optical-comparator + CMM (coordinate measuring machine — Zeiss, Mitutoyo, Hexagon, Wenzel, Faro) verification at final inspection. Honing on Sunnen / Delapena / Nagel honing machines for cylinder-bore ID finishing to Rz / Rk / Rvk plateau-honing spec.

Precision measurement + first-piece inspection

Micrometer (mechanical + digital) at 0.0001" resolution; digital calipers at 0.0005" resolution; height gauge with Digimatic or Trimos verticals; sine bars + gauge blocks (Grade 0 or Grade AAA Johansson blocks); pin gauges (plus / minus / go-no-go); thread gauges (Class 2B / 3B / 6H / 6g); CMM programming in PC-DMIS, Calypso, PolyWorks Inspector, MODUS. Surface-finish measurement in Ra / Rz / Rq on Mitutoyo Surftest / Mahr Perthometer. Optical-comparator (Nikon, Mitutoyo, Starrett HDV) profile check to CAD overlay. Vision-system inspection (Keyence, OGP, Micro-Vu, VIP) for high-volume gauge R&R. GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) fluency per ASME Y14.5-2018 — flatness, parallelism, perpendicularity, position, profile, runout, cylindricity.

Die tryout + press debug + engineering-change management

Die tryout on 300-1,500-ton mechanical + hydraulic + servo presses (Bliss, Minster, AIDA, Schuler, Komatsu, Aida-America) — first-blank stamp; slug-through analysis; scrap-clearing; punch-and-die shut-height adjustment; strip-lifter timing; nitrogen-cylinder pressure balance; safety-block procedures. Try-out documentation — first-piece inspection report; die-adjustment log; ECN (Engineering Change Notice) generation with red-line drawing markup. Root-cause analysis on die failures (galling, chipping, cracking, wear, spring back, thickness variation, split, fracture) using 5-Why / fishbone / 8D discipline. Predictive-maintenance schedule for high-volume progressive dies — punch / die-insert change intervals at 250k-500k stamping cycles depending on material and clearance.

CAD / CAM + tool design fluency

SolidWorks (with Mold Design + Sheet Metal Bend + PDM Vault), Autodesk Inventor + Vault, PTC Creo + Windchill, Siemens NX + Teamcenter, Cimatron Mold Design, VISI Cadcam (Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence), Missler TopSolid Mold. Sheet-metal blank-development calculators (K-factor, Y-factor bend allowance). Injection-mold-flow analysis in Autodesk Moldflow, SIGMASOFT, Moldex3D. Stamping-simulation FEA in AutoForm, Dynaform / LS-Dyna, Pam-Stamp for deep-draw feasibility and springback prediction. Reverse-engineering + scan-to-CAD workflow (Geomagic Design X, Polyworks Modeler, Faro Design ScanArm).

How to Become a Tool and Die Makers

1
Complete high school + a 2-year AAS or technical certificate in Machining / Tool & Die Technology
AAS or Certificate programs at Macomb Community College (MI), Henry Ford College (MI), Washtenaw Community College (MI), Lansing Community College (MI), Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI), Northwood Technical College (WI), Ivy Tech Community College (IN), Central Piedmont Community College (NC), Lorain County Community College (OH), Cuyahoga Community College (OH), Cerritos College (CA), El Camino College (CA). Program cost $4-14k with generous grants and employer sponsorship at Tier-1 automotive suppliers and Big-3 auto plants. Alternative pathway — start as a Machine Operator or Machinist and lateral into an apprenticeship after 1-3 years of shop-floor experience.
2
Enter a 4-5-year Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship as Apprentice Toolmaker
8,000 hours of on-the-job training (4 years at 2,000 hr / year, or 5 years at 1,600 hr / year) + 576-720 hours of related classroom instruction. Registered programs at Big-3 auto (Ford Apprentice Program, GM Apprentice Program, Stellantis Skilled Trades Apprenticeship), Tier-1 suppliers (Magna Skilled Trades Apprenticeship, Martinrea Apprenticeship), aerospace (Boeing Apprentice Program — QC Toolmaker path, Lockheed Aeronautics Apprenticeship, Raytheon Apprenticeship, GE Aerospace Apprentice), medical device (Medtronic, Stryker, Boston Scientific tooling apprenticeships). Union pathways — IAMAW (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) District Lodge apprenticeships, UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters) Millwright pathway for regulated-industrial toolroom work. Apprentice pay $18-28/hr progressing to $28-38/hr in year 4-5. Apprenticeship completion certificate is portable across states and employers.
3
Stack NIMS Machining Level I and Level II Tool & Die Maker credentials
NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) Machining Level I — Job Planning + Benchwork + Layout + Turning Chucking + Turning Between Centers + Milling + Grinding + CNC Milling Programming + CNC Milling Set-Up & Operations + CNC Turning Programming + CNC Turning Set-Up & Operations + EDM (Wire) + EDM (Sinker) individual credentials. NIMS Level II Tool & Die Maker — Progressive Die Set-Up & Assembly + Section Die Manufacturing + Die Manufacturing + Fixture Making + Mold Making + Die Fitting + Mold Fitting individual credentials. Each credential $80-150 exam fee; typically employer-paid. NIMS credentials are the portable industry-recognized signal at Tier-1 auto, aerospace, and medical device tooling employers.
4
Complete apprenticeship + earn Journeyman Tool & Die Maker status at $58-82k + benefits
Journeyman status after 4-5 years of apprenticeship + successful completion of the state / Department of Labor final examination. First Journeyman seat — Tier-1 automotive stamping (Magna Cosma International, Martinrea, Gestamp, Shiloh Industries, Kirchhoff Automotive, Metalsa), Big-3 auto stamping plant toolroom (Ford Kansas City / Chicago / Dearborn Stamping, GM Marion / Parma / Lordstown Stamping, Stellantis Warren / Sterling Stamping), plastic injection mold shop (Progressive Components, Nypro / Jabil Healthcare, Nissha Medical Technologies, MGS Manufacturing Group), or aerospace toolroom (Boeing 767 / 777 / 787 tool fabrication, Lockheed Skunk Works tooling, Northrop tooling). Union Big-3 auto Journeyman Tool & Die Maker pay $34-42/hr = $72-88k + full UAW-Big-3 benefits + pension + medical + dental.
5
Specialize in a premium vertical — aerospace AS9100D, medical device ISO 13485, or high-precision mold making
Aerospace AS9100D — the aerospace quality-management standard (superset of ISO 9001) required for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney tooling. First-Article Inspection Report (FAIR) discipline per AS9102; nadcap accreditation for special-process suppliers (heat treatment, non-destructive testing, chemical processing). Medical Device ISO 13485 — medical-device quality-management standard for tooling at Medtronic, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, Boston Scientific, Abbott, Baxter International; Design History File (DHF), Device Master Record (DMR), Design Validation and Verification requirements for tooling. High-precision mold making — micro-molding (< 0.5g shot weight), optical-molding (Ra 0.4 μin polished cavities), medical-implant micro-tooling. Specialty pay premium of 15-30% over generalist automotive tooling.
6
Advance to Sr Journeyman / Toolroom Lead / Tooling Engineer at $75-125k
8-14 years in seat. Ownership of a program from tooling-design through tryout and production-launch. Team lead responsibilities for 3-8 Journeyman Toolmakers and 2-4 Apprentice Toolmakers. Add associate degree or bachelor's in Manufacturing Engineering / Mechanical Engineering Technology for the Tooling Engineer track — the credential opens salaried Tooling Engineer seats at $85-125k + bonus + benefits vs. hourly-wage Journeyman + overtime seats. Alternative — Chief Tool Designer with SolidWorks / Creo / NX mastery + Moldflow / AutoForm simulation depth at $95-135k salaried.
7
Advance to Tooling Manager / Manufacturing Engineering Manager / Chief Tool Designer at $115-185k+
14-22 years in seat. Manager-level ownership of a toolroom (12-40 Journeymen + Apprentices), a program-launch team, or a supplier-quality-engineering function. Bachelor's in Manufacturing Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology typically required at Fortune-500 automotive / aerospace / medical device manufacturers. Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt + Lean Manufacturing Certification helpful. Tooling Manager at a Big-3 auto stamping plant $135-185k + LTIP; Chief Tool Designer at Boeing / Lockheed / Medtronic $155-215k + equity + full benefits.

Career Progression

Apprentice Toolmaker

0-5 yrs$18-38/hr progressing across the apprenticeship = $38-78k + full benefits + tuition support + pension eligibility

•8,000 hours on-the-job training under Journeyman supervision — bench work, layout, machining, grinding, EDM
•576-720 hours related classroom instruction on print reading, GD&T, math, materials, machining theory
•NIMS Machining Level I credentials in progress — Job Planning, Benchwork, Layout, Turning, Milling, Grinding, CNC, EDM Wire, EDM Sinker
•Progress to independent set-up and machining under Journeyman signoff by year 3-4

Next: Journeyman Tool & Die Maker at year 4-5 after apprenticeship completion + state / DoL final examination.

Journeyman Tool & Die Maker

4-10 yrs$34-42/hr = $72-88k + full UAW-Big-3 or IAMAW-aerospace benefits + pension + tuition support

•Independent tool build — progressive dies, transfer dies, plastic injection molds, forging dies, jigs, fixtures, gauges
•Multi-axis CNC set-up + programming — Haas / Mazak / DMG Mori mills; Makino / Sodick / Mitsubishi wire + sinker EDM
•Die tryout + press debug on 300-1,500-ton mechanical + hydraulic + servo presses
•First-piece inspection to CMM + optical-comparator verification; GD&T per ASME Y14.5-2018

Next: Sr Journeyman / Toolroom Lead / Tooling Engineer at year 8-14 with NIMS Level II credentials + program-launch experience.

Sr Journeyman / Toolroom Lead / Tooling Engineer

8-16 yrs$75-125k salaried + 5-10% bonus + benefits at aerospace / medical device / Tier-1 auto; $92-118k hourly-with-overtime at Big-3 union

•Lead a 3-8 Journeyman toolroom subgroup; own a full program from tooling design through PPAP / FAI
•Own the tooling budget for a program launch (typically $850k-3.2M for a mid-complexity progressive die or mold family)
•Chief Tool Designer track — SolidWorks / Creo / NX + Moldflow / AutoForm simulation ownership
•First-Article Inspection Report (FAIR) discipline per AS9102 (aerospace) or Design Validation per ISO 13485 (medical device)

Next: Tooling Manager / Manufacturing Engineering Manager at year 14-22.

Tooling Manager / Manufacturing Engineering Manager / Chief Tool Designer

14-22 yrs$115-185k+ salaried + 12-18% bonus + LTIP + equity at Fortune-500 automotive / aerospace / medical device

•Manager-level ownership of a toolroom (12-40 Journeymen + Apprentices) at a Big-3 auto stamping plant, aerospace tooling shop, or medical-device tooling shop
•Own the enterprise tooling budget and tooling-lifecycle plan for a business unit ($8-45M annual tooling spend)
•Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) + Design for Assembly (DFA) collaboration with product engineering
•Direct-manage 2-6 Tooling Engineers + Toolroom Leads; represent tooling at program launch reviews and executive quality reviews

Next: Director Manufacturing Engineering / Director Tooling at year 20+.

Director Manufacturing Engineering / Director Tooling / VP Manufacturing

20+ yrs$175-315k+ base + 18-25% target bonus + LTIP + equity + full executive benefits at Fortune-500

•Own enterprise manufacturing-engineering strategy for a division or business unit at Fortune-500 (Big-3 auto, aerospace, medical device)
•Own the enterprise tooling P&L; approve tooling-supplier selection at $10M+ program level
•Report to VP Manufacturing / Chief Operating Officer; interface with CFO on capital-tooling investment cycles
•Represent manufacturing engineering to product engineering, quality, and supply chain at C-suite quality-review and launch-readiness reviews

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 11 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through the last progressive die you built — strip layout, die-clearance calculation, and tryout debug.technical

Structured. Example: 'Progressive die for a stamped bracket in DP780 advanced high-strength steel at 2.5mm thick, for a Ford Escape B-pillar reinforcement running on a 660-ton Minster Piecemaker mechanical press. Strip layout: 6-station progression — pilot pierce, 4 progressive form stations with graduated draw depth to control springback, cut-off. Feed pitch 165mm; scrap-web width 12mm minimum for feed stability. Die-clearance calculation: 8% of stock thickness = 0.2mm per side (DP780 is at the upper edge of clearance target because the tensile strength is above 780 MPa — too-tight clearance galls the punch; too-loose clearance rolls the edge). Die-material selection: cutting inserts in CPM-M4 PM steel at 62 HRC hardness for wear resistance on the AHSS; form-die inserts in D2 at 60 HRC. Tryout debug: first-blank cycle showed a 3mm springback deviation at the C-pillar-facing feature — I re-cut the last form-station die insert with an additional 2° overbend and re-ran the springback compensation loop; the second tryout cycle came in within the ±0.5mm PPAP tolerance. Total tryout to PPAP-approved die was 14 days across 6 iteration cycles. Interviewers screen for candidates who describe real material behavior (AHSS springback, galling risk on tight clearance), real tonnage sizing, real iteration cycles — not textbook progressive-die theory.

Q2. Describe how you'd hold ±0.0002" bore tolerance on a hardened tool-steel component.technical

Structured. (1) Rough machining pre-heat-treat — CNC milling to 0.02" oversize on the bore with a solid carbide end mill; rough finish + drill to 0.06" undersize. (2) Heat treatment — vacuum harden the D2 or A2 tool steel to target hardness (typically 60-62 HRC for A2, 58-60 HRC for D2 depending on application); triple-temper to relieve retained-austenite stress. Expect 0.001-0.003" dimensional growth from heat treatment; program the rough-cut oversize accordingly. (3) Post-heat-treat semi-finish — hard-milling with a coated carbide end mill (TiAlN or AlCrN coating) at 0.005-0.010" oversize on the bore. (4) Precision finishing — jig grinding on a Moore or Hauser jig grinder to ±0.0001" bore tolerance and Ra 4 μin surface finish. Coolant discipline: mineral-oil-based coolant with 4-6% concentration; thermal-stability wait (30-60 min) after clamp-up before grinding to eliminate thermal-expansion error. Wheel selection: fine-grit CBN wheel (Norton, Norton IPA, 3M Cubitron) for hardened tool steel. (5) CMM verification — probe the bore with a 4mm ruby stylus, measure roundness, cylindricity, position; document to first-article inspection report per AS9102 (aerospace) or PPAP dimensional layout (automotive). Interviewers screen for candidates who understand thermal-stability discipline, coolant chemistry, and wheel-selection basics — not just the machine-tool nameplate.

Q3. Describe a difficult die failure or mold failure you diagnosed and fixed.behavioral

STAR. Situation: Journeyman Toolmaker at a Tier-1 automotive stamping supplier building progressive dies for GM cross-car beam reinforcements in HSLA 340. Symptom: progressive die failed at 180k cycles with a catastrophic punch fracture at the second pierce station — normal life was 400-500k cycles. Task: diagnose the root cause and fix the die before the customer PPAP requalification deadline in 12 days. Action: (1) pulled the failed punch and did fractography under a stereo microscope + a hardness traverse across the fracture — the fracture was fatigue-initiated at a sharp radius transition on the punch nose; no evidence of thermal cracking or brittle-material defect; hardness was in-spec 60-61 HRC on M2 tool steel. (2) Reviewed the die-clearance measurements — one side of the clearance was 4% of stock thickness (too tight for HSLA 340), causing lateral load on the punch on every stroke and initiating the fatigue crack. Root cause: incorrect die-clearance calculation at design; the CAD file was set for cold-rolled steel not HSLA. (3) Redesigned the die insert with 9% clearance per side and a fillet radius transition (R0.4mm) on the punch nose to eliminate the stress concentrator. (4) Fabricated the replacement insert in CPM-M4 PM steel at 62 HRC hardness for additional wear resistance. (5) Re-ran tryout at 25% production speed for 8-hour verification; then full-speed for 24-hour verification. (6) Documented the ECN and the die-life re-projection at 450k cycles based on the corrected clearance. Result: die passed re-qualification; customer met PPAP deadline; die completed the program at 480k cycles without further failure. Interviewers screen for candidates who describe real root-cause analysis, not 'we replaced the broken punch and it worked.'

Q4. Why tool and die making rather than general machining or Manufacturing Engineering?culture

Honest answer. 'I like the intellectual rigor and hand-and-eye craft of building the tool that makes the part. Tool and die is the top of the skilled-trades ladder — it requires depth in machining, grinding, EDM, CAD/CAM, materials, GD&T, and press-and-mold behavior all at once. It's not process-manufacturing operation; it's design-fabricate-tryout-debug in a tight iteration loop. A CNC operator runs the tool; a Tool & Die Maker builds and diagnoses the tool. Pay is competitive — Journeyman at a Big-3 auto plant with the UAW skilled-trades classification clears $78-95k including overtime, and aerospace + medical device Journeyman + Sr Journeyman roles at Boeing / Lockheed / Medtronic clear $92-118k. Long-term I want to move into the Chief Tool Designer or Tooling Manager track — combining SolidWorks / Moldflow / AutoForm simulation depth with the hands-on Journeyman foundation. I'm currently 12 of 18 months into a Manufacturing Engineering AAS at Macomb Community College to bridge to the salaried Tooling Engineer track at year 8-10.'

Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer

Show the fork clearly. Two tracks. IC track — Sr Journeyman / Chief Tool Designer at a Big-3 auto, aerospace, or medical device tooling shop with CAD / CAM + simulation mastery (SolidWorks + Moldflow + AutoForm + LS-Dyna); this is the deep-technical-specialist track at $105-145k. Manager track — Toolroom Lead → Tooling Engineer → Tooling Manager → Director Manufacturing Engineering; this is the people-and-P&L track at $135-215k+. I'm on the manager track. I hold Journeyman with 6 years at the trade, NIMS Machining Level I + Level II Tool & Die Maker credentials, and I'm 12 of 18 months into a Manufacturing Engineering AAS at Macomb Community College. Target — Tooling Engineer role at Tier-1 auto or Boeing / Lockheed within 24-30 months; Tooling Manager at year 10-14; Director Manufacturing Engineering at year 18-22. If I stay Big-3 union, the wage-classification premium at Sr Skilled Trades adds $18-32k in Journeyman + overtime pay; if I take the salaried Tooling Engineer track I trade some overtime pay for LTIP eligibility and bonus.'

Resume Template — Journeyman Tool & Die Maker (4-10 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Journeyman Tool & Die Maker (4-10 yrs)

▸Journeyman Tool & Die Maker at Ford Motor Company Chicago Stamping Plant (UAW Local 588 skilled-trades classification); build and maintain progressive dies for F-150 and Explorer body-in-white stampings running on 600-1,500-ton Minster + Bliss + Schuler presses.
▸Completed 12 progressive-die builds in FY24 across DP780 + HSLA 340 + cold-rolled deep-draw applications; zero PPAP-failure events; average die-life delivered 465k cycles vs 400k program target.
▸NIMS Machining Level I (all 13 credentials) + NIMS Level II Tool & Die Maker (Progressive Die Set-Up & Assembly, Die Manufacturing, Die Fitting, Section Die Manufacturing). GD&T per ASME Y14.5-2018.
▸Macomb Community College AAS Manufacturing Engineering Technology (in progress, 12 of 18 months). $38.50/hr base rate = $80k salary equivalent + $18-24k / yr Big-3 skilled-trades overtime + full UAW-Ford benefits + pension.

What Gets You Rejected

✗Cannot describe die-clearance calculation, feed-progression logic, or springback compensation from memory — signals candidate hasn't done independent progressive-die build work and is a set-up-machine-operator not a Toolmaker.
✗Cannot demonstrate manual bench-work + layout + hand-scraping skills — the apprenticeship-era craft foundation matters at aerospace and medical-device toolrooms where CAM programs don't always reach the fitting-and-finishing steps.
✗History of PPAP-failure events, FAI-rejection events, or die-life-under-target events without documented root-cause corrective actions — a reference-check red flag.
✗Cannot describe NIMS Machining Level I / Level II credentials or the Registered Apprenticeship structure — signals candidate is a shop-experience machinist without the portable industry-recognized credential.
✗No CAD / CAM proficiency beyond running post-processed G-code — a Toolmaker without SolidWorks / Creo / NX + Mastercam / Esprit / HyperMill is capped at Journeyman and won't advance to Sr Journeyman / Chief Tool Designer / Tooling Engineer.
✗Cannot describe multi-pass wire EDM strategy or sinker-EDM electrode design — signals candidate is a hand-machining specialist without the precision-EDM depth required at aerospace + medical-device toolrooms.
✗No AS9100D / ISO 13485 quality-management experience for aerospace / medical device candidates — regulated-tooling employers screen on FAIR-per-AS9102 discipline and DHF / DMR familiarity.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓NIMS Level II Tool & Die Maker credential stack — the portable credential recognized across Tier-1 auto, aerospace, and medical device employers; adds $4-8/hr = $8-16k salary at Journeyman promotion.
✓AS9100D aerospace-quality experience — Boeing / Lockheed / Northrop / Raytheon / GE Aerospace / Pratt & Whitney tooling seats pay 15-25% above generalist automotive tooling.
✓ISO 13485 medical-device experience — Medtronic / Stryker / Boston Scientific / Zimmer Biomet / Abbott tooling seats pay 15-30% above generalist tooling.
✓CAD / CAM + simulation mastery — SolidWorks + Moldflow + AutoForm + LS-Dyna + Mastercam / Esprit / HyperMill / PowerMill; opens the Chief Tool Designer track at $95-135k salaried vs Journeyman + overtime cap.
✓AAS or Bachelor's in Manufacturing Engineering Technology — opens the salaried Tooling Engineer track at Fortune-500 employers; typical premium $18-35k over hourly-Journeyman classification.
✓Big-3 UAW skilled-trades classification — Ford / GM / Stellantis skilled-trades Journeyman rate + overtime + shift premium + pension is one of the top compensation packages for a Tool & Die Maker; the UAW pension defined-benefit component is worth 25-45% of total career compensation depending on retirement year and tenure.
✓Multi-axis 5-axis CNC + wire EDM + sinker EDM stack — Journeymen who can program and set up all three (Mazak Integrex + Makino U6 + Sodick AG) are the ones aerospace and medical device employers pay 15-20% premium to retain.
✓Program-launch experience — documented ownership of a program tooling launch (die design + build + tryout + PPAP / FAI) at $850k-3.2M program size opens the Tooling Engineer / Chief Tool Designer promotion track.
✓Sign-on bonus + relocation — Journeyman moves between Big-3 auto, Tier-1 auto suppliers, aerospace, and medical device routinely negotiate $5-25k sign-on + $8-25k relocation for out-of-state hires.

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Tool and Die Makers Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$46K

$109K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
Washington	$109,390	+70.8%	1,510
Kansas	$83,890	+31.0%	660
Maine	$79,910	+24.8%	80
Connecticut	$77,540	+21.1%	1,880
California	$77,030	+20.3%	1,790
New Jersey	$74,460	+16.3%	540
Oregon	$73,930	+15.4%	300
North Dakota	$73,130	+14.2%	70
Minnesota	$71,020	+10.9%	1,150
New Hampshire	$69,910	+9.1%	250

Showing 1–10 of 45

Tool and Die Makers Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$116,850	+82.4%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$97,560	+52.3%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$87,240	+36.2%
Kansas City, MO-KS	$85,740	+33.9%
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$85,010	+32.7%
Lima, OH	$84,730	+32.3%
Wichita, KS	$83,890	+31.0%
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$83,510	+30.4%
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$82,820	+29.3%
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$81,510	+27.3%

Showing 1–10 of 167

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A tool and die makers earning $64,050/year would need 931 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 999 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

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📈 See how tool and die makers salaries have changed over the past decade.

View Tool and Die Makers salary trend (2011–2024) →