CAREER
Tool and Die Makers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$54,760
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
-5.4% (decline)
Career
What Tool and Die Makers Do
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.
Other Job Titles Tool and Die Makers May Have
Die Machinist, Die Repair Laborer, Die Repair Technician (Die Repair Tech), Jig and Fixture Repairer, Tool Maker, Tool Repairer, Tool and Die Machinist, Tool and Die Maker, Tool and Fixture Specialist, Trim Die Maker
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- 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.
- Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.
- Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies.
- Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications.
- Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools, using machine tools, hand tools, or welders.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Tool and Die Makers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: High school diploma or equivalent (42%)
High school diploma or equivalent
42%
Some college, no degree
34%
Associate's degree
14%
Other*
9%
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
