Mold Maker: metro pay ranking

At Skilled Trades Headhunters, this is what we do all day: recruit skilled trades professionals.

Skilled Trades Headhunters compares published medians for SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers, not estimated offers for this particular title.

Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?

This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Tool and Die Makers. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.

Highest and lowest published metro medians
Metro	Median	Employment	Location quotient	Trade median / all-occupations median
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$116,850	1,090	1.42	1.61
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$97,560	130	0.15	1.31
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$87,240	60	0.35	1.49
Kansas City, MO-KS	$85,740	450	1.12	1.69
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$85,010	100	0.18	1.45
Lima, OH	$84,730	70	3.61	1.80
Wichita, KS	$83,890	440	3.92	1.76
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$83,510	290	2.78	1.72
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$82,820	40	0.38	1.69
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$81,510	250	1.27	1.60
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	$80,060	80	2.25	1.64
Lincoln, NE	$80,030	130	1.95	1.61
Portland-South Portland, ME	$79,910	40	0.41	1.40
Ogden, UT	$79,480	60	0.61	1.63
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$79,020	60	1.19	1.38
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$78,960	170	1.14	1.28
Burlington, NC	$78,140	40	1.8	1.78
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$78,060	770	3.49	1.30
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$78,020	950	0.41	1.40
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$77,780	260	0.58	1.28
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$77,620	370	0.37	1.17
New Haven, CT	$77,410	230	2.22	1.29
Savannah, GA	$77,040	50	0.7	1.63
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$76,420	550	9.39	1.49
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$76,380	660	0.19	1.24
Sheboygan, WI	$75,490	220	10.11	1.45
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$75,250	610	2.41	1.56
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$74,840	930	1.3	1.26
Jackson, MS	$74,560	70	0.7	1.74
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$74,320	160	1.1	1.51
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$74,070	510	0.48	1.36
Oklahoma City, OK	$73,760	130	0.53	1.56
Jacksonville, FL	$73,250	40	0.13	1.50
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$73,170	90	0.63	1.41
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$73,120	4,900	7.03	1.40
Huntsville, AL	$73,050	80	0.78	1.41
Appleton, WI	$73,010	80	1.8	1.46
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$72,390	50	0.41	1.38
Saginaw, MI	$71,910	250	8.47	1.56
Columbus, IN	$71,180	180	9.65	1.47
Columbia, SC	$70,620	110	0.77	1.52
Bowling Green, KY	$69,790	180	5.83	1.55
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	$69,690	80	2.81	1.43
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$69,570	70	0.12	1.12
Bay City, MI	$69,240	30	2.8	1.52
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$69,210	810	2.01	1.37
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	$68,290	50	2.25	1.72
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$68,120	830	2.75	1.33
Richmond, VA	$68,000	30	0.14	1.32
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$67,830	200	1.26	1.46
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	$67,650	90	6.35	1.49
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	$67,130	40	2.08	1.40
Binghamton, NY	$66,880	40	1.2	1.35
Tulsa, OK	$66,700	110	0.65	1.43
Rochester, MN	$66,680	30	0.73	1.10
Toledo, OH	$66,630	540	5.03	1.38
Omaha, NE-IA	$66,420	80	0.42	1.34
HVAC manufacturers-Hanover, PA	$66,320	200	3.01	1.38
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$66,240	110	0.26	1.41
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$66,190	30	0.36	1.35
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$66,140	100	1.36	1.17
Madison, WI	$65,900	150	1.02	1.13
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$65,660	80	0.6	1.43
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$65,590	100	3.13	1.38
Sandusky, OH	$65,460	40	2.41	1.46
Reading, PA	$65,440	100	1.57	1.32
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	$65,230	50	1.73	1.35
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$64,920	130	1.04	1.31
Birmingham, AL	$64,800	200	1.05	1.36
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$64,650	1,540	7.01	1.36
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$64,530	120	1.3	1.39
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$64,460	80	0.14	1.32
Decatur, IL	$64,410	40	2.13	1.26
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$64,400	90	0.09	1.32
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$64,370	140	2.06	1.33
Bloomington, IL	$64,320	40	1.22	1.21
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$64,270	680	1.68	1.28
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$64,270	390	1.48	1.20
Green Bay, WI	$64,110	30	0.51	1.28
Cleveland, OH	$64,070	1,280	3.4	1.28
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$64,050	140	0.49	1.30
Syracuse, NY	$64,010	80	0.71	1.21
Corpus Christi, TX	$63,890	30	0.48	1.41
Erie, PA	$63,740	230	5.19	1.43
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$63,720	70	1.91	1.18
Owensboro, KY	$63,720	80	4.68	1.42
Wausau, WI	$63,570	60	2.26	1.30
Jackson, MI	$63,410	180	8.74	1.33
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$63,330	40	0.52	1.38
Dubuque, IA	$63,290	70	3.16	1.30
Traverse City, MI	$63,260	60	2.58	1.33
Eau Claire, WI	$63,250	60	1.97	1.31
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	$63,240	180	7.69	1.37
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$63,230	110	1.92	1.40
Knoxville, TN	$63,180	500	3.24	1.34
Cedar Rapids, IA	$63,140	30	0.66	1.28
Peoria, IL	$62,950	130	2.12	1.27
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$62,690	280	0.44	1.30
Springfield, MA	$62,620	150	2	1.21
Kenosha, WI	$62,550	30	1.12	1.29
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$62,540	180	3.78	1.30
Battle Creek, MI	$62,440	50	2.38	1.28
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$62,440	450	0.9	1.25
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$62,040	570	1.41	1.26
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	$61,940	120	2.75	1.28
Montgomery, AL	$61,790	40	0.64	1.37
Worcester, MA	$61,770	200	1.56	1.07
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$61,760	140	2.83	1.33
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$61,720	260	2.59	1.32
Niles, MI	$61,690	160	7.17	1.34
Janesville-Beloit, WI	$61,670	40	1.63	1.27
Lebanon, PA	$61,570	30	1.53	1.32
Akron, OH	$61,440	280	2.37	1.26
Spartanburg, SC	$61,420	180	2.98	1.29
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$61,370	250	0.29	1.19
Reno, NV	$61,350	140	1.41	1.24
Fort Wayne, IN	$61,340	340	4.13	1.29
Fond du Lac, WI	$61,330	70	4.45	1.22
Muncie, IN	$61,310	60	3.68	1.39
Ann Arbor, MI	$61,250	220	2.76	1.11
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$61,180	3,750	2.27	1.12
Pittsburgh, PA	$61,160	660	1.61	1.23
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$61,090	250	1.88	1.31
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$61,020	390	2.82	1.22
Asheville, NC	$60,950	130	1.91	1.30
Evansville, IN	$60,890	160	3.29	1.31
Monroe, MI	$60,840	80	5.44	1.32
Rochester, NY	$60,820	280	1.54	1.19
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$60,760	120	0.54	1.30
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$60,590	110	0.41	1.17
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$60,570	200	3.49	1.38
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$60,420	30	0.24	1.27
Decatur, AL	$60,410	30	1.38	1.31
Lancaster, PA	$60,280	230	2.53	1.25
Springfield, OH	$60,220	90	5.46	1.32
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$59,970	280	3.53	1.14
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$59,910	630	0.42	1.16
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$59,730	70	0.16	1.28
St. Louis, MO-IL	$59,610	570	1.17	1.19
Columbus, OH	$59,350	310	0.77	1.16
Canton-Massillon, OH	$59,000	90	1.48	1.29
Mansfield, OH	$58,710	140	7.74	1.31
Springfield, MO	$58,540	70	0.85	1.28
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$58,110	400	0.38	1.14
Champaign-Urbana, IL	$58,000	60	1.53	1.14
Gainesville, GA	$57,560	50	1.32	1.25
Winston-Salem, NC	$57,510	130	1.28	1.24
Jackson, TN	$57,240	110	3.61	1.28
Johnson City, TN	$56,460	60	1.96	1.30
Joplin, MO-KS	$55,930	40	1.18	1.24
Tucson, AZ	$54,920	30	0.24	1.15
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$53,720	180	1.27	1.10
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$53,330	370	0.31	1.08
Rockford, IL	$52,900	390	7.67	1.12
Modesto, CA	$52,300	40	0.54	1.03
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$50,410	50	0.57	1.12
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$50,320	60	0.12	0.88
Williamsport, PA	$49,910	60	3.23	1.08
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	$49,690	40	0.63	1.36
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$48,730	70	1.52	1.08
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$48,680	160	0.52	0.88
Morristown, TN	$48,400	180	10.47	1.09
El Paso, TX	$45,800	80	0.65	1.16
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$37,910	60	1.05	0.78
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$37,800	180	0.73	1.28
Ponce, PR	$36,400	60	2.6	1.35

The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.

Where does this trade pay most relative to local wages?

Occupation median divided by the same area's all-occupations median
Area	Wage ratio	Median	Location quotient
Lima, OH	1.80	$84,730	3.61
Burlington, NC	1.78	$78,140	1.8
Wichita, KS	1.76	$83,890	3.92
Jackson, MS	1.74	$74,560	0.7
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	1.72	$68,290	2.25
Lexington-Fayette, KY	1.72	$83,510	2.78
Stockton-Lodi, CA	1.69	$82,820	0.38
Kansas City, MO-KS	1.69	$85,740	1.12
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	1.64	$80,060	2.25
Savannah, GA	1.63	$77,040	0.7
Ogden, UT	1.63	$79,480	0.61
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	1.61	$116,850	1.42
Lincoln, NE	1.61	$80,030	1.95
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	1.60	$81,510	1.27
Oklahoma City, OK	1.56	$73,760	0.53
Saginaw, MI	1.56	$71,910	8.47
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	1.56	$75,250	2.41
Bowling Green, KY	1.55	$69,790	5.83
Columbia, SC	1.52	$70,620	0.77
Bay City, MI	1.52	$69,240	2.8
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	1.51	$74,320	1.1
Jacksonville, FL	1.50	$73,250	0.13
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	1.49	$87,240	0.35
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	1.49	$76,420	9.39
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	1.49	$67,650	6.35
Columbus, IN	1.47	$71,180	9.65
Appleton, WI	1.46	$73,010	1.8
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	1.46	$67,830	1.26
Sandusky, OH	1.46	$65,460	2.41
Sheboygan, WI	1.45	$75,490	10.11
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	1.45	$85,010	0.18
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	1.43	$65,660	0.6
Erie, PA	1.43	$63,740	5.19
Tulsa, OK	1.43	$66,700	0.65
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	1.43	$69,690	2.81
Owensboro, KY	1.42	$63,720	4.68
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	1.41	$73,170	0.63
Huntsville, AL	1.41	$73,050	0.78
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	1.41	$66,240	0.26
Corpus Christi, TX	1.41	$63,890	0.48
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	1.40	$73,120	7.03
Portland-South Portland, ME	1.40	$79,910	0.41
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	1.40	$63,230	1.92
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	1.40	$67,130	2.08
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	1.40	$78,020	0.41
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	1.39	$64,530	1.3
Muncie, IN	1.39	$61,310	3.68
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	1.38	$65,590	3.13
Youngstown-Warren, OH	1.38	$60,570	3.49
Toledo, OH	1.38	$66,630	5.03
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	1.38	$72,390	0.41
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	1.38	$79,020	1.19
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	1.38	$63,330	0.52
HVAC manufacturers-Hanover, PA	1.38	$66,320	3.01
Montgomery, AL	1.37	$61,790	0.64
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	1.37	$69,210	2.01
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	1.37	$63,240	7.69
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	1.36	$74,070	0.48
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	1.36	$49,690	0.63
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	1.36	$64,650	7.01
Birmingham, AL	1.36	$64,800	1.05
Binghamton, NY	1.35	$66,880	1.2
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	1.35	$65,230	1.73
Ponce, PR	1.35	$36,400	2.6
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	1.35	$66,190	0.36
Knoxville, TN	1.34	$63,180	3.24
Niles, MI	1.34	$61,690	7.17
Omaha, NE-IA	1.34	$66,420	0.42
Traverse City, MI	1.33	$63,260	2.58
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	1.33	$68,120	2.75
Jackson, MI	1.33	$63,410	8.74
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	1.33	$61,760	2.83
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	1.33	$64,370	2.06
Springfield, OH	1.32	$60,220	5.46
Lebanon, PA	1.32	$61,570	1.53
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	1.32	$64,400	0.09
Reading, PA	1.32	$65,440	1.57
Chattanooga, TN-GA	1.32	$61,720	2.59
Richmond, VA	1.32	$68,000	0.14
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	1.32	$64,460	0.14
Monroe, MI	1.32	$60,840	5.44
Eau Claire, WI	1.31	$63,250	1.97
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	1.31	$97,560	0.15
Mansfield, OH	1.31	$58,710	7.74
Greensboro-High Point, NC	1.31	$61,090	1.88
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	1.31	$64,920	1.04
Evansville, IN	1.31	$60,890	3.29
Decatur, AL	1.31	$60,410	1.38
Wausau, WI	1.30	$63,570	2.26
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	1.30	$78,060	3.49
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	1.30	$62,540	3.78
Asheville, NC	1.30	$60,950	1.91
Johnson City, TN	1.30	$56,460	1.96
Dubuque, IA	1.30	$63,290	3.16
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	1.30	$60,760	0.54
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	1.30	$64,050	0.49
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	1.30	$62,690	0.44
Kenosha, WI	1.29	$62,550	1.12
Spartanburg, SC	1.29	$61,420	2.98
New Haven, CT	1.29	$77,410	2.22
Canton-Massillon, OH	1.29	$59,000	1.48
Fort Wayne, IN	1.29	$61,340	4.13
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	1.28	$78,960	1.14
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	1.28	$37,800	0.73
Green Bay, WI	1.28	$64,110	0.51
Battle Creek, MI	1.28	$62,440	2.38
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	1.28	$77,780	0.58
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	1.28	$64,270	1.68
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	1.28	$59,730	0.16
Cedar Rapids, IA	1.28	$63,140	0.66
Springfield, MO	1.28	$58,540	0.85
Jackson, TN	1.28	$57,240	3.61
Cleveland, OH	1.28	$64,070	3.4
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	1.28	$61,940	2.75
Janesville-Beloit, WI	1.27	$61,670	1.63
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	1.27	$60,420	0.24
Peoria, IL	1.27	$62,950	2.12
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	1.26	$74,840	1.3
Akron, OH	1.26	$61,440	2.37
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	1.26	$62,040	1.41
Decatur, IL	1.26	$64,410	2.13
Gainesville, GA	1.25	$57,560	1.32
Lancaster, PA	1.25	$60,280	2.53
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	1.25	$62,440	0.9
Joplin, MO-KS	1.24	$55,930	1.18
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	1.24	$76,380	0.19
Winston-Salem, NC	1.24	$57,510	1.28
Reno, NV	1.24	$61,350	1.41
Pittsburgh, PA	1.23	$61,160	1.61
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	1.22	$61,020	2.82
Fond du Lac, WI	1.22	$61,330	4.45
Bloomington, IL	1.21	$64,320	1.22
Syracuse, NY	1.21	$64,010	0.71
Springfield, MA	1.21	$62,620	2
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	1.20	$64,270	1.48
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	1.19	$61,370	0.29
St. Louis, MO-IL	1.19	$59,610	1.17
Rochester, NY	1.19	$60,820	1.54
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	1.18	$63,720	1.91
Manchester-Nashua, NH	1.17	$66,140	1.36
Raleigh-Cary, NC	1.17	$60,590	0.41
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	1.17	$77,620	0.37
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	1.16	$59,910	0.42
El Paso, TX	1.16	$45,800	0.65
Columbus, OH	1.16	$59,350	0.77
Tucson, AZ	1.15	$54,920	0.24
Champaign-Urbana, IL	1.14	$58,000	1.53
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	1.14	$59,970	3.53
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	1.14	$58,110	0.38
Madison, WI	1.13	$65,900	1.02
Rockford, IL	1.12	$52,900	7.67
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	1.12	$50,410	0.57
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	1.12	$61,180	2.27
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	1.12	$69,570	0.12
Ann Arbor, MI	1.11	$61,250	2.76
Rochester, MN	1.10	$66,680	0.73
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	1.10	$53,720	1.27
Morristown, TN	1.09	$48,400	10.47
Williamsport, PA	1.08	$49,910	3.23
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	1.08	$53,330	0.31
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	1.08	$48,730	1.52
Worcester, MA	1.07	$61,770	1.56
Modesto, CA	1.03	$52,300	0.54
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	0.88	$50,320	0.12
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	0.88	$48,680	0.52
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	0.78	$37,910	1.05

Broader occupation Our title "Mold Maker" is reported by BLS as SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers. BLS groups Mold Maker within Tool and Die Makers; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.

National percentile table Methodology