Tool and Die Makers

Moderate Risk
Low High

Explore safer careers (1)

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Why it fits

Transfers drawings, tolerances, fixtures, testing, measurement data, prototype support, and manufacturing problem solving.

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Why it fits

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Why it fits

Reuses setups, tooling, metalworking machines, production runs, measurements, adjustments, and inspection routines.

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Uses CNC setup, machine monitoring, tool changes, measurements, quality checks, offsets, and shop safety.

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Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
2.9/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

55% (Moderate Risk)

Moderate Risk (41-60%): This occupation may be meaningfully affected by automation. Some parts of the role may be suitable for AI, software, or robotics, while others still rely on human skill, judgement, trust, or real-world context. People in this range may benefit from building skills that complement automation and reduce replacement risk.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Decision-making and problem solving

Very important
Why this matters
Analyze information, weigh tradeoffs, and choose the best solution—especially when situations are ambiguous, high-stakes, or have real-world consequences.
Jobs that also use this strength

Thinking creatively

Quite important
Why this matters
Coming up with original ideas and designs—creating new concepts, products, systems, or artistic work. This kind of open-ended invention and taste-based judgment is harder to automate end-to-end than routine, rule-based tasks.
Jobs that also use this strength

Active learning

Quite important
Why this matters
Keeps learning from new information and applying it to make better decisions now and in the future, especially when situations change.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 95 votes

50% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted they are unsure if this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 55% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Tool and Die Makers will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Sentiment

Based on user votes over time

View sentiment trend

How opinions have changed over time

Pay & outlook

Wages

Moderately paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Tool and Die Makers was $63,180 ($30 per hour).

The median annual wage for Tool and Die Makers was 27.6% higher than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Very slow growth relative to other professions.

The number of 'Tool and Die Makers' job openings is expected to decline 10.8% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Moderate range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 55,130 people employed as 'Tool and Die Makers' within the United States.

This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 2 thousand people are employed as 'Tool and Die Makers'.

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What people are saying (7)

Leave a comment
James (Low)
14 Oct 2025 12:52
Toolmaking is fairly unpredictable, and requires a fairly high level of dexterity to assemble and disassemble tools.
Jerry Melvin (Low)
21 Jul 2025 17:47
As a tool maker, we machine create, build, assemble & troubleshoot all types of various cooling machine, machines dies mold I can’t see how robot is gonna be able to do that.
ralph kulas (No chance)
30 Jun 2023 21:54
been one all my life. I'm 76 yr old. Most things in die making a robot just cant do!!
N (Low)
24 Mar 2023 20:10
There’s a lot of thinking a toolmaker does that a robot can’t really be taught to compete with, the problem lies with a lot of the younger generations not seeing it as a viable trade or one that even exists for that matter
eric eliason (Low)
13 Mar 2021 15:21
increasing need for support for nc fixtures etc. lack of skilled workers for one-off jobs not worth programming
Iron man
04 Dec 2020 00:11
CNC and 3D print is a tool to make a part and a part of the job. Making the part is only a fraction of the trade. Engineered prints are always incomplete or incorrect because engineering is a world of theory and trades like tool and die maker are where theory meets reality. Pre WW2 engineering didn’t even exist the tool maker was the engineer.
Tim Postma (Highly likely)
29 Dec 2019 18:21
because of more modern ways then tool and die such as digital manufacturing , its easier to just cnc mill or 3dprinting & will eventually out pace traditional jobs in the supply chain but keep in mind to have a future to get future jobs its important to accept automation and retool the skills needed because learning automation skills like coding and 3dprinting will make those people a opportunity
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Job description

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.

O*NET-SOC code: 51-4111.00