Tool and Die Maker Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Tool and Die Maker in the United States was $64,050 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers earned between $51,490 and $78,770.
Direct match Our title "Tool and Die Maker" is reported by BLS as SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers. BLS reports this occupation as Tool and Die Makers. A license or specialty is still checked separately.
Annual wages
Tool and Die Maker, the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $44,680, half earned less than the median of $64,050, 90% earned less than $92,680 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,680 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $51,490 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $64,050 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $78,770 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $92,680 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $66,860 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages
Tool and Die Maker, the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $21.48, half earned less than the median of $30.79, 90% earned less than $44.56 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.48 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $24.75 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $30.79 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $37.87 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $44.56 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $32.14 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 56,930 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers, National.
What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
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.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | 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. Florida median: $63,890. | |||
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $53,330 | $38,100 to $61,120 | 370 | 0.31 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,180 | $47,150 to $74,720 | 3,750 | 2.27 |
How does Tool and Die Maker pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 51-4111, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 23 | $54,640 | Annual | 90 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $52,610 | Annual | 60 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $54,640 | Annual | 60 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $64,180 | Annual | 53,680 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | 321000 | $52,870 | Annual | 60 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 321900 | $49,050 | Annual | 50 |
| Paper Manufacturing | 322000 | $58,560 | Annual | 1,590 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 322200 | $58,560 | Annual | 1,580 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 323000 | $44,590 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 323100 | $44,590 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 325000 | $73,150 | Annual | 120 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $73,150 | Annual | 100 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 326000 | $62,260 | Annual | 4,280 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 326100 | $61,670 | Annual | 3,970 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 326200 | $68,580 | Annual | 320 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327000 | $62,970 | Annual | 220 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331000 | $56,600 | Annual | 3,630 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 331200 | $66,370 | Annual | 330 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 331300 | $57,360 | Annual | 780 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 331400 | $69,450 | Annual | 340 |
| Foundries | 331500 | $50,300 | Annual | 2,180 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332000 | $63,160 | Annual | 11,450 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $63,430 | Annual | 7,580 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $63,550 | Annual | 1,250 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 332700 | $62,100 | Annual | 2,380 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 332800 | $45,440 | Annual | 250 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 333000 | $62,780 | Annual | 12,880 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $65,540 | Annual | 2,180 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 333300 | $66,440 | Annual | 100 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 333500 | $61,910 | Annual | 10,160 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 333600 | $78,910 | Annual | 430 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 334000 | $77,320 | Annual | 1,000 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 334400 | $78,190 | Annual | 470 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 334500 | $76,040 | Annual | 510 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 335000 | $67,640 | Annual | 1,400 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 335100 | $50,130 | Annual | 50 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | 335200 | $76,530 | Annual | 300 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 335300 | $66,550 | Annual | 370 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | $67,100 | Annual | 690 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $78,200 | Annual | 14,610 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336100 | $92,670 | Annual | 1,860 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 336200 | $64,580 | Annual | 340 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $72,840 | Annual | 8,930 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $84,840 | Annual | 3,190 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 336600 | $62,730 | Annual | 140 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336900 | $53,460 | Annual | 130 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 337000 | $59,990 | Annual | 320 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 3370A1 | $60,000 | Annual | 320 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339000 | $69,260 | Annual | 1,230 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 339100 | $78,450 | Annual | 580 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339900 | $61,670 | Annual | 650 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | 488000 | $60,130 | Annual | 50 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488100 | $60,980 | Annual | 40 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $76,780 | Annual | 300 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $76,780 | Annual | 300 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $65,710 | Annual | 180 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $93,160 | Annual | 80 |
| Repair and Maintenance | 811000 | $73,770 | Annual | 130 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | $73,770 | Annual | 120 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Machine Shop Supervisor (51-1011)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.
| 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 |
| 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.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Tool and Die Maker in National as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Tool and Die Maker in National, the published median for SOC 51-4111, Tool and Die Makers, is $64,050 per year. The middle half of the Tool and Die Maker in National wage distribution runs from $51,490 to $78,770, a width of $27,280 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Tool and Die Maker comparison, commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI reports $73,120 per year while Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN reports $61,180 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Tool and Die Maker figure pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Tool and Die Makers, read alongside Tool and Die Maker in National, are Scientific Research and Development Services at $93,160 per year (NAICS 541700); Motor Vehicle Manufacturing at $92,670 per year (NAICS 336100); Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing at $84,840 per year (NAICS 336400). Those Tool and Die Maker in National industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Tool and Die Maker in National median was $63,180 per year in May 2024, compared with $64,050 in May 2025, a published difference of $870. That Tool and Die Maker in National comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $63,180 and $64,050 Tool and Die Maker in National estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before offering $64,050 per year for Tool and Die Maker in National, separate on-call duties, overtime, travel reimbursement, tool replacement and any truck allowance separately; prevailing wage and union requirements must be checked against the actual assignment. The Tool and Die Maker in National BLS comparison includes ordinary wages and qualifying incentive pay, but leaves overtime, discretionary bonuses, benefits and relocation outside this wage figure. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Tool and Die Maker in National can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Tool and Die Maker in National is direct: BLS reports this occupation as Tool and Die Makers; A license or specialty is still checked separately. When calibrating a Tool and Die Maker in National opening, the work checks include Registered apprenticeship journeyman card; progressive dies; ask for evidence of that scope instead of using a percentile as a substitute for qualification. The Tool and Die Maker in National direct mapping still describes an occupation and area rather than a specific applicant, so credentials and actual duties remain part of offer calibration.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Tool and Die Maker in National buyer?
Tool and Die Maker in National has a published middle-half band of $51,490 to $78,770, a width of $27,280 per year, with median $64,050. An offer inside that Tool and Die Maker in National band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Tool and Die Maker in National?
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Tool and Die Maker in National. Comparing those Tool and Die Makers tables with the $64,050 Tool and Die Maker in National median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Tool and Die Maker in National?
Tool and Die Maker in National uses national industry rows for SOC 51-4111, not local sector-specific wages. Scientific Research and Development Services leads the selected sortable rows at $93,160 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Tool and Die Maker in National.
What changed between the releases for Tool and Die Maker in National?
Tool and Die Maker in National moved from $63,180 in May 2024 to $64,050 in May 2025. These Tool and Die Maker in National published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 51-4111. Published annual median: $63,180 (May 2024) and $64,050 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.