How Much Does a Tool and Die Maker Make? (2024)
Metalwork · SOC Code 51-4111 · 4-year apprenticeship
The average tool and die maker earns $67,268 per year ($32/hour) as of 2024, according to BLS data. Yearly income ranges from $50,460 to $103,200 depending on city, with entry-level workers earning about $55,470 and top earners making $108,160+.
Yes — top-decile tool and die makers clear $100K in 7 of 29 metros
The 90th-percentile tool and die maker in Seattle, WA earns $108,160 per year ($52/hour). Reaching that tier typically takes journeyman-to-master progression plus union membership, specialization, or running a small contracting business. Median tool and die maker pay nationally is $67,268 — the $100K mark is the high-earner ceiling, not the middle.
National Salary Range
Tool and Die Maker salaries range from $50,460 to $103,200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $103,200 | $55,470 – $108,160 | $69,262 | D | 840 |
| San Francisco, CA | $85,290 | $53,310 – $124,870 | $44,889 | F | 90 |
| Kansas City, MO | $82,950 | $50,130 – $90,700 | $88,245 | D | 550 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $78,810 | $49,180 – $102,380 | $47,476 | F | 760 |
| New York, NY | $76,110 | $49,450 – $102,440 | $40,701 | F | 780 |
| Boston, MA | $75,730 | $52,490 – $94,770 | $49,822 | F | 350 |
| Portland, OR | $75,030 | $51,610 – $107,010 | $57,715 | D | 310 |
| Detroit, MI | $72,300 | $47,180 – $91,290 | $81,236 | D | 4,540 |
| Miami, FL | $70,270 | $46,670 – $91,650 | $57,598 | D | 110 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $68,340 | $50,530 – $93,220 | $64,472 | D | 800 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $67,580 | $48,920 – $84,460 | $65,612 | D | 230 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $67,500 | $44,190 – $84,170 | $70,313 | D | 1,060 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $66,020 | $46,790 – $102,670 | $57,409 | D | 540 |
| Denver, CO | $65,850 | $46,020 – $88,630 | $51,445 | F | 130 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $64,310 | $49,100 – $83,070 | $61,837 | D | 70 |
| Nashville, TN | $63,670 | $44,060 – $83,770 | $61,816 | D | 740 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $63,010 | $39,970 – $89,730 | $69,242 | D | 550 |
| Charlotte, NC | $62,120 | $46,510 – $89,430 | $63,388 | D | 390 |
| Chicago, IL | $61,580 | $43,000 – $85,230 | $57,551 | D | 3,100 |
| Tampa, FL | $61,240 | $42,780 – $74,850 | $60,634 | D | 90 |
| Raleigh, NC | $60,170 | $46,570 – $78,170 | $60,170 | D | 110 |
| Atlanta, GA | $59,970 | $38,710 – $91,150 | $56,575 | D | 360 |
| St. Louis, MO | $59,590 | $44,550 – $91,490 | $66,211 | D | 740 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $58,860 | $43,860 – $72,440 | $63,978 | D | 590 |
| San Antonio, TX | $58,730 | $38,790 – $80,120 | $65,256 | D | 100 |
| Dallas, TX | $58,580 | $39,890 – $101,810 | $57,431 | D | 620 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $57,460 | $52,070 – $78,450 | $55,250 | D | 0 |
| Columbus, OH | $56,030 | $37,960 – $76,510 | $60,247 | D | 420 |
| Houston, TX | $50,460 | $35,400 – $79,210 | $52,563 | D | 300 |
About Tool and Die Maker Pay
Tool and Die Makers earn a national median salary of $67,268 based on 2024 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is Seattle at $103,200 median, while Houston offers the lowest at $50,460.
Becoming a tool and die maker typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $55,470, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $108,160 or more. With -3% 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.
Thinking about becoming a tool and die maker?
Step-by-step path: 4-year apprenticeship, certifications, state licensing, and apprentice-to-master pay timeline.
Related Metalwork Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The average tool and die maker salary is $67,268 per year ($32/hour) based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Average yearly income ranges from $50,460 to $103,200 depending on city, experience, and union status.
Tool and Die Makers earn an average hourly wage of $32/hour based on a 2,080-hour work year. Entry-level (10th percentile) hourly pay is about $27/hour, while top earners (90th percentile) make $52/hour or more.
Seattle offers the highest median pay for tool and die makers at $103,200. 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 -3% wage growth over 5 years, tool and die maker offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 19,270 jobs nationwide across 29 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 $55,470 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.
For this entity, the underlying data on this page comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The breakdown above is the federal record; the paragraphs below add the per-entity context that makes the headline numbers usable for a real decision rather than just a data lookup.
The methodology behind every numeric value on this page is publicly documented on the the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey portal and described in detail on this site’s methodology page. Refresh cadence varies by underlying series; the page surfaces the as-of date for each number so readers can trace any figure back to the source release.
Practical use of this page is in combination with the comparison and ranking pages elsewhere on the site, which surface the same data for this entity’s peers within U.S. trades, cities, and states. A single-entity reading without peer context can be misleading when an entity is an outlier on one axis but typical on another.