Tool and Die Maker Salary (2025)
Metalwork · SOC Code 51-4111 · 4-year apprenticeship
National Salary Range
Tool and Die Maker salaries range from $51,309 to $80,173 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Tool and Die Maker Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $80,173 | $49,670 – $116,056 | $42,196 | F | 5,179 |
| New York, NY | $79,551 | $47,823 – $115,467 | $42,541 | F | 5,305 |
| Seattle, WA | $70,553 | $44,390 – $105,793 | $47,351 | D | 3,034 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $70,367 | $45,498 – $105,521 | $61,189 | D | 2,535 |
| Boston, MA | $69,797 | $43,844 – $107,926 | $45,919 | D | 5,795 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $67,826 | $43,505 – $104,048 | $63,987 | D | 2,590 |
| Portland, OR | $66,362 | $41,530 – $98,842 | $51,048 | D | 2,970 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $65,591 | $40,160 – $98,778 | $39,513 | F | 4,779 |
| Chicago, IL | $63,692 | $37,986 – $94,194 | $59,525 | D | 2,613 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $62,663 | $37,066 – $96,373 | $65,274 | D | 2,238 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $61,946 | $37,162 – $95,308 | $59,563 | D | 3,008 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $61,594 | $39,923 – $92,013 | $66,950 | D | 1,450 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $61,247 | $38,366 – $93,132 | $58,891 | D | 2,215 |
| Dallas, TX | $60,740 | $36,693 – $93,851 | $59,549 | D | 2,366 |
| St. Louis, MO | $60,617 | $38,955 – $86,807 | $67,352 | D | 1,747 |
| Nashville, TN | $59,724 | $38,562 – $89,306 | $57,984 | D | 2,964 |
| Detroit, MI | $59,677 | $38,657 – $92,334 | $67,053 | D | 2,194 |
| Denver, CO | $59,611 | $36,149 – $88,018 | $46,571 | D | 3,045 |
| Atlanta, GA | $58,854 | $38,095 – $90,113 | $55,523 | D | 3,017 |
| Miami, FL | $58,674 | $36,293 – $90,560 | $48,093 | D | 3,054 |
| Houston, TX | $57,314 | $34,850 – $86,080 | $59,702 | D | 1,523 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $57,083 | $36,886 – $88,342 | $62,729 | D | 1,912 |
| New Orleans, LA | $57,048 | $36,805 – $82,174 | $60,051 | D | 1,346 |
| Raleigh, NC | $55,722 | $35,900 – $81,411 | $55,722 | D | 1,511 |
| Tampa, FL | $55,624 | $34,943 – $81,922 | $55,073 | D | 2,492 |
| Columbus, OH | $55,374 | $35,690 – $78,188 | $59,542 | D | 2,293 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $53,672 | $33,860 – $77,398 | $52,109 | D | 2,084 |
| San Antonio, TX | $51,583 | $32,185 – $79,504 | $57,314 | D | 1,304 |
| Charlotte, NC | $51,437 | $31,735 – $79,341 | $52,487 | D | 2,247 |
| Kansas City, MO | $51,309 | $33,265 – $79,019 | $54,584 | D | 2,096 |
About Tool and Die Maker Pay
Tool and Die Makers earn a national median salary of $61,514 based on 2025 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is San Francisco at $80,173 median, while Kansas City offers the lowest at $51,309.
Becoming a tool and die maker typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $49,670, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $116,056 or more. With 2% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Related Metalwork Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for tool and die makers is $61,514 based on 2025 BLS data. Pay ranges from $51,309 to $80,173 depending on city, experience, and union status.
San Francisco offers the highest median pay for tool and die makers at $80,173. However, cost of living matters — the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of D and 2% wage growth over 5 years, tool and die maker offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 80,906 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a tool and die maker typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $49,670 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.