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Tool and Die Makers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$63,180	5100	-9.7%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$63,180

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

5100

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

-9.7%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)

Related Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

Detailed Work Activities

Assemble machine tools, parts, or fixtures.
Operate welding equipment.
Repair parts or assemblies.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
Operate grinding equipment.
Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
Operate grinding equipment.
Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
Conduct test runs of production equipment.
Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
Operate grinding equipment.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
Shape metal workpieces with hammers or other small hand tools.
Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
Design tools, fixtures, or other devices for production equipment.
Select production input materials.
Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
Design tools, fixtures, or other devices for production equipment.
Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.
Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.
Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications.
Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies.
Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools, using machine tools, hand tools, or welders.
Inspect finished dies for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects.
Select metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness or heat tolerance.
Lift, position, and secure machined parts on surface plates or worktables, using hoists, vises, v-blocks, or angle plates.
File, grind, shim, and adjust different parts to properly fit them together.
Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools, using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, emery cloths, or power grinders.
Measure, mark, and scribe metal or plastic stock to lay out machining, using instruments such as protractors, micrometers, scribes, or rulers.
Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary.
Design jigs, fixtures, and templates for use as work aids in the fabrication of parts or products.
Cut, shape, and trim blanks or blocks to specified lengths or shapes, using power saws, power shears, rules, and hand tools.
Set up and operate drill presses to drill and tap holes in parts for assembly.
Develop and design new tools and dies, using computer-aided design software.
Set pyrometer controls of heat-treating furnaces and feed or place parts, tools, or assemblies into furnaces to harden.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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