Salary guide, May 2025
Tool and Die Maker 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 Tool and Die Makers in the United States was $64,050 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $51,490 and $78,770.
Also searched as: Toolmaker, Die Maker, Tool & Die Technician, Die Repair Technician. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Direct match · SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers
The Tool and Die Maker title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44,680 | $51,490 | $64,050 | $78,770 | $92,680 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21.48 | $24.75 | $30.79 | $37.87 | $44.56 |
BLS estimated 56,930 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers, 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 | $64,400 | $48,260 to $77,850 | 90 | 0.09 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $64,460 | $51,380 to $74,340 | 80 | 0.14 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Not published by BLS for this area. National figures above apply. | |||
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $60,590 | $48,360 to $65,430 | 110 | 0.41 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $76,380 | $61,140 to $92,020 | 660 | 0.19 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $76,380 | $61,140 to $92,020 | 660 | 0.19 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $59,910 | $44,940 to $81,370 | 630 | 0.42 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,180 | $47,150 to $74,720 | 3,750 | 2.27 |
Rank every metro for Tool and Die Maker
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.
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$92,670
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$84,840
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$78,910
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing$78,450
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$78,200
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$78,190
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$77,320
- Household Appliance Manufacturing$76,530
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$76,040
- Chemical Manufacturing$73,150
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$73,150
- Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing$72,840
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing$69,450
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing$69,260
- Rubber Product Manufacturing$68,580
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 | 53,680 | $52,520 | $64,180 | $78,910 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 14,610 | $61,350 | $78,200 | $92,320 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 12,880 | $50,510 | $62,780 | $74,900 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 11,450 | $54,260 | $63,160 | $76,070 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 10,160 | $49,690 | $61,910 | $73,390 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 8,930 | $56,600 | $72,840 | $84,060 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 7,580 | $56,810 | $63,430 | $76,390 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 4,280 | $49,110 | $62,260 | $75,510 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 3,970 | $48,580 | $61,670 | $75,270 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 3,630 | $46,980 | $56,600 | $68,610 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 3,190 | $75,660 | $84,840 | $110,590 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 2,380 | $51,640 | $62,100 | $75,480 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 2,180 | $44,450 | $50,300 | $66,570 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 2,180 | $53,240 | $65,540 | $77,220 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 1,860 | $85,760 | $92,670 | $94,960 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 1,590 | $50,620 | $58,560 | $61,180 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 1,580 | $50,630 | $58,560 | $61,180 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 1,400 | $59,690 | $67,640 | $79,240 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 1,250 | $57,450 | $63,550 | $75,290 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,230 | $54,800 | $69,260 | $80,050 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 1,220 | $53,340 | $63,350 | $73,920 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,160 | $48,970 | $61,050 | $76,860 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 1,000 | $66,470 | $77,320 | $85,040 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 780 | $47,640 | $57,360 | $61,830 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 690 | $61,090 | $67,100 | $78,230 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 650 | $49,250 | $61,670 | $72,090 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 580 | $67,600 | $78,450 | $86,290 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 510 | $62,810 | $76,040 | $82,320 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 470 | $66,920 | $78,190 | $92,510 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 430 | $66,680 | $78,910 | $86,160 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 370 | $59,640 | $66,550 | $76,180 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 340 | $59,870 | $69,450 | $79,530 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 340 | $54,810 | $64,580 | $69,980 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 330 | $54,910 | $66,370 | $74,620 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 320 | $59,480 | $68,580 | $78,870 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 320 | $51,010 | $59,990 | $67,570 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 320 | $51,010 | $60,000 | $68,260 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 300 | $60,400 | $76,530 | $80,850 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 250 | $43,350 | $45,440 | $68,640 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 220 | $47,160 | $62,970 | $77,430 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 220 | $47,160 | $62,970 | $77,430 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 140 | $51,780 | $62,730 | $64,050 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 130 | $47,960 | $53,460 | $72,300 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 120 | $56,160 | $73,150 | $88,360 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 100 | $56,160 | $73,150 | $88,360 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 100 | $61,330 | $66,440 | $80,030 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 60 | $48,060 | $52,870 | $58,610 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 50 | $47,350 | $49,050 | $60,300 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 50 | $38,020 | $50,130 | $67,670 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 50 | $50,760 | $60,700 | $81,930 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | Not published by BLS | $40,340 | $44,590 | $50,750 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | Not published by BLS | $40,340 | $44,590 | $50,750 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Tool and Die Maker, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. 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 | $51,200 | $63,180 | $77,430 |
| May 2025 | $51,490 | $64,050 | $78,770 |
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.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
Who finishes the tryout?
Tryout is where a die proves itself. Some toolmakers hand off a die as soon as it fits. Others stay with it through press runs and adjustments. We ask how many dies the candidate has seen through tryout and what they changed. This detail separates builders from true die makers.
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 Tool and Die Maker?
The median annual wage for Tool and Die Makers in the United States was $64,050 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $51,490 and $78,770.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $44,680. 90% earned less than $92,680.
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 Tool and Die Maker at a plant?
The Tool and Die Maker title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 56,930 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
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What does this data mean for your opening?
Tool and Die Makers are essential for manufacturing precision parts. Nationally, the role requires skills in wire EDM, surface grinding, and die tryout. These workers build and maintain progressive or transfer dies. Manufacturing Headhunters observes that the national median pay reached $64,050 in May 2025. This reflects a shift from $63,180 in May 2024.
The middle band width is $27,280, defining the salary range for the central 50 percent of the workforce. BLS data excludes non-cash benefits like shift premiums or tool allowances.
The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro serves as a significant hub for this role with a high location quotient of 7.03. Its median pay of $73,120 sits well above the national median. This reflects the heavy concentration of automotive tooling work. In contrast, the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area shows a lower median of $61,180. These metro differences arise from regional demand rather than differences in the core trade skills. BLS reports do not adjust for specific employer types or shop sizes.
Industry-specific data highlights where pay fluctuates. National Motor Vehicle Manufacturing leads with a median of $92,670. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing follows at $84,840. Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing reports a lower median of $78,910. Note that these industry figures are national. They represent the industry standard rather than the local occupation median. The BLS standardizes the tool and die occupation broadly. It does not isolate specific apprenticeship levels or shop-floor specializations in these figures.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Does the published wage data account for different levels of experience?
No, the Bureau of Labor Statistics data aggregates all experience levels into a single set of percentiles. It does not distinguish between junior and master level toolmakers.
Why is the Detroit area pay higher than the national median for this role?
The higher pay in Detroit is influenced by regional industry concentration and local labor market competition for specialized skills. This is indicated by its high location quotient.
What pay components are missing from these figures?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics excludes non-wage compensation like sign-on bonuses, shift differentials, and benefits. These figures reflect only base annual earnings.
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