Salary guide, May 2025
Mold / Die Design Engineer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Industrial Engineers in the United States was $102,440 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $83,600 and $129,250.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2112 Industrial Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74,370 | $83,600 | $102,440 | $129,250 | $159,860 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.76 | $40.19 | $49.25 | $62.14 | $76.85 |
BLS estimated 365,740 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2112 Industrial Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $103,740 | $81,810 to $129,150 | 3,360 | 0.51 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $100,670 | $78,520 to $123,830 | 2,090 | 0.61 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $104,920 | $85,800 to $127,450 | 2,040 | 0.61 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,030 | $83,240 to $130,220 | 1,710 | 0.98 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $105,840 | $93,100 to $130,260 | 8,540 | 0.38 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $105,840 | $93,100 to $130,260 | 8,540 | 0.38 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $105,640 | $93,020 to $132,830 | 10,680 | 1.12 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $101,760 | $82,260 to $126,580 | 12,750 | 1.2 |
Rank every metro for Mold / Die Design Engineer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$127,140
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$127,140
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$118,700
- Sawmills and Wood Preservation$108,250
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$108,170
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$108,110
- Tobacco Manufacturing$108,090
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$107,170
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$106,340
- Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing$106,170
- Animal Slaughtering and Processing$105,680
- Chemical Manufacturing$105,450
- Dairy Product Manufacturing$105,450
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing$105,380
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$105,370
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 248,860 | $82,290 | $101,160 | $126,660 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 55,900 | $85,080 | $102,390 | $127,250 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 41,320 | $86,770 | $105,370 | $133,290 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 28,010 | $81,650 | $99,070 | $121,540 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 25,680 | $98,350 | $107,170 | $131,930 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 23,290 | $93,530 | $105,450 | $130,730 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 22,640 | $77,900 | $93,170 | $104,250 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 20,060 | $88,940 | $108,110 | $140,790 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 18,550 | $82,840 | $101,920 | $128,760 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 18,200 | $81,880 | $98,830 | $120,590 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 17,250 | $79,550 | $96,890 | $106,770 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 16,880 | $91,760 | $104,840 | $130,890 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 15,540 | $85,110 | $102,810 | $129,190 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 14,900 | $79,420 | $96,770 | $107,790 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 12,400 | $78,950 | $97,790 | $110,760 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 11,950 | $79,330 | $96,620 | $106,940 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 11,710 | $92,180 | $104,110 | $129,470 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 11,340 | $78,320 | $94,370 | $104,900 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 9,150 | $97,950 | $118,700 | $136,120 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 8,140 | $95,070 | $106,340 | $128,140 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 6,910 | $79,730 | $99,030 | $117,390 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 6,260 | $84,130 | $102,830 | $126,540 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 5,560 | $85,060 | $101,150 | $129,380 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 5,400 | $79,760 | $98,920 | $119,880 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 5,360 | $76,350 | $90,070 | $104,100 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 4,990 | $77,510 | $92,670 | $103,570 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 4,970 | $78,360 | $98,200 | $108,050 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 4,570 | $95,870 | $103,340 | $128,710 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 3,390 | $65,840 | $79,040 | $99,530 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 3,310 | $65,800 | $78,990 | $99,530 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 3,220 | $79,890 | $97,680 | $124,910 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 3,140 | $77,720 | $90,920 | $105,490 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 3,070 | $76,660 | $89,610 | $102,790 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,010 | $77,480 | $93,810 | $106,220 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 2,950 | $79,660 | $98,320 | $116,500 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 2,940 | $82,140 | $98,870 | $119,810 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 2,940 | $82,140 | $98,870 | $119,810 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 2,440 | $78,970 | $96,820 | $106,910 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 2,430 | $81,020 | $98,130 | $116,950 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 2,340 | $93,660 | $108,170 | $133,940 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 2,170 | $64,520 | $99,540 | $137,030 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,100 | $78,710 | $96,750 | $110,110 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,020 | $106,610 | $127,140 | $152,940 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,020 | $106,610 | $127,140 | $152,940 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,920 | $79,080 | $95,820 | $105,900 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 1,820 | $83,310 | $102,600 | $129,960 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 1,550 | $80,730 | $100,410 | $131,930 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 1,540 | $85,170 | $103,250 | $125,920 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 1,520 | $79,310 | $95,010 | $106,660 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 1,390 | $79,340 | $93,460 | $102,770 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,320 | $74,810 | $91,780 | $108,710 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 1,300 | $83,780 | $103,280 | $126,590 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,290 | $64,770 | $94,540 | $110,070 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 1,170 | $79,710 | $98,790 | $105,140 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 1,070 | $78,750 | $94,390 | $108,780 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 1,040 | $93,820 | $105,380 | $128,570 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 990 | $81,230 | $99,970 | $117,710 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 950 | $74,450 | $91,110 | $103,750 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 930 | $94,260 | $104,530 | $127,430 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 930 | $72,470 | $89,520 | $107,990 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 890 | $92,480 | $105,450 | $128,810 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 890 | $81,650 | $101,620 | $125,780 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 830 | $83,690 | $104,160 | $126,870 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 740 | $83,680 | $99,410 | $123,200 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 740 | $79,030 | $101,350 | $123,200 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 720 | $80,490 | $91,170 | $107,250 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 680 | $84,550 | $105,680 | $135,780 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 650 | $78,270 | $93,070 | $107,250 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 650 | $78,270 | $93,070 | $107,250 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 590 | $79,800 | $96,140 | $112,340 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 530 | $74,680 | $88,730 | $108,800 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 520 | $84,270 | $100,470 | $126,400 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 510 | $78,590 | $95,100 | $104,450 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 300 | $85,210 | $101,610 | $130,660 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 280 | $78,190 | $93,450 | $108,520 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 280 | $72,910 | $85,020 | $107,200 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 280 | $75,610 | $87,540 | $107,040 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 260 | $75,760 | $99,140 | $117,580 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 250 | $86,000 | $104,380 | $131,170 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 200 | $75,250 | $88,600 | $106,660 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 120 | $93,080 | $108,090 | $134,500 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 110 | $88,030 | $108,250 | $131,680 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 100 | $94,450 | $97,130 | $132,360 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 90 | $81,270 | $96,700 | $108,730 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 80 | $75,850 | $91,930 | $115,090 |
| 316900 | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 60 | $75,700 | $106,170 | $123,850 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 50 | $66,520 | $88,620 | $127,880 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 40 | $82,470 | $101,090 | $110,440 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | Not published by BLS | $48,570 | $59,630 | $84,280 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Mold / Die Design Engineer, clarify the base pay before discussing call-outs, travel or extra shifts. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $81,910 | $101,140 | $127,480 |
| May 2025 | $83,600 | $102,440 | $129,250 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the authority you are offering?
Settle tool design rather than responsibility for running production trials before outreach begins. We put the difference around tool design rather than responsibility for running production trials in front of you so the interview tests missing experience rather than assuming it is already there.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Mold / Die Design Engineer?
The median annual wage for Industrial Engineers in the United States was $102,440 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $83,600 and $129,250. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $74,370. 90% earned less than $159,860.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Mold / Die Design Engineer at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 365,740 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
Manufacturing Engineering Manager pay Manufacturing Engineer pay Process Engineer pay Process Engineering Manager pay Industrial Engineer pay Mold / Die Design Engineer pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Mold / Die Design Engineer recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters evaluates mold/die design engineers within the Industrial Engineers occupation. The current national median is $102,440, having increased by $1,300 over the May 2024 reporting period. The middle band width of $45,650 spans from a P25 of $83,600 to a P75 of $129,250. Because this title is not tracked independently, these figures reflect all industrial engineering roles nationwide.
National industry statistics show substantial variance. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing records a median of $127,140, while Chemical Manufacturing reports a median of $118,700. These specific industries show higher earning potential than the general national median. However, BLS totals ignore non-cash compensation components and bonuses that are highly relevant to technical design specialists.
The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro reports a median of $104,110 with a high location quotient of 3.87. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington shows a median of $104,730 with a 3.04 quotient. These figures show that while both are key industrial hubs for this occupational group, the data remains mapped to the broad Industrial Engineers definition, not specifically to mold/die designers.
We distinguish top candidates through specific design review expertise. Our screening examines a candidate's ability to handle trade-offs regarding parting lines, material release, component wear, and service access. A qualified mold/die designer will demonstrate a command of tool design as a distinct discipline, separate from the general engineer who is responsible for running production trials on existing tools.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How do you separate mold design work from production trial work?
We evaluate expertise in the geometry and material properties of the tool itself. Candidates focused on production trials typically lack the specific design knowledge we require.
Why is the P75 value not representative for all designers?
The $129,250 P75 figure covers all industrial engineers across all industries. Specialized tool design roles in high-performance sectors often command pay that exceeds this P75 mark.
How should I use the median change of $1,300?
This figure shows the national shift in median pay for all Industrial Engineers since May 2024. Use it as a trailing indicator of market movement rather than an offer guideline.
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