Salary guide, May 2025
Tool and Die Maker pay in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
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 Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ was $76,380 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $61,140 and $92,020.
The Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median is $12,330 above the national median of $64,050, both from BLS May 2025.
BLS publishes the wider New York-Newark-Jersey City metro, not Northern New Jersey separately.
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.
What should you know about northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $51,120 | $61,140 | $76,380 | $92,020 | $99,020 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $24.58 | $29.39 | $36.72 | $44.24 | $47.61 |
BLS estimated 660 workers employed in this occupation in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Location quotient: 0.19.
What should you know about united States?
| 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 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Tool and Die Maker median is $76,380. The all-occupations median in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $61,430. Ratio: 1.24 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.19 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $60,220 | $76,110 | $91,040 |
| May 2025 | $61,140 | $76,380 | $92,020 |
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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
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.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $78,960 | $60,230 to $96,980 |
| New Haven, CT | $77,410 | $61,120 to $83,020 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters analyzes the Northern New Jersey area, which is classified within the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro. This region reports 660 tool and die makers. Success in this role requires a registered apprenticeship or NIMS credentials, with specialized proficiency in wire EDM, surface grinding, die tryout, and progressive or transfer die build and repair.
The regional median is $76,380, and the middle band width is $30,880. This band is wider than the national middle band width of $27,280. These rows are national benchmarks and exclude localized compensation variables such as shift premiums, overtime, or performance-based pay.
The regional median grew by $270 from May 2024 to May 2025, which lags behind the national median growth of $870. Northern New Jersey maintains a location quotient of 0.19, reflecting a concentration that is below the national average. Nearby comparison hubs include Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, with a median of $78,960, and New Haven, CT, with a median of $77,410. These areas represent key employment hubs for the industry. The similarity in medians across this regional group suggests that local wage structures are influenced by shared regional demand for highly skilled tool and die makers across the tri-state area.
The mean wage of $76,290 aligns closely with the median, suggesting a stable wage distribution within this local market. Hiring managers should evaluate the middle band width of $30,880 to understand the broad range of pay that exists for this role. Since BLS data aggregates all employer types within the trade, it does not differentiate by shop complexity or proprietary technology usage. This information serves as a broad market benchmark. Managers should assess internal requirements against these metrics, keeping in mind that the figures exclude non-cash benefits that often play a key role in attracting talent to high-skill manufacturing positions in the Northern New Jersey market.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Does Northern New Jersey have unique BLS data separate from the larger NYC metro?
No, BLS reporting covers the wider New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area. Northern New Jersey data is contained within this unified statistical reporting.
How do local medians in Northern New Jersey compare to Connecticut hubs?
The Northern New Jersey median of $76,380 is lower than the medians in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury ($78,960) and New Haven ($77,410).
Does this data reflect specific tool and die build complexity?
No, the BLS report aggregates duties under one occupation title. It does not differentiate between the varying levels of die build complexity or shop-specific work performed.
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