Machinists vs Tool & Die Makers
Median pay is about $5k higher for Tool & Die Makers. The usual entry education is high school plus training for Machinists and apprenticeship for Tool & Die Makers.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Machinists | Tool & Die Makers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $58,750 | $64,050, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $47,570 | $51,490, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $67,700 | $78,770, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +1.0% Growing, higher | -9.2% Declining |
| Openings a year | 26,100 | 4,300 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school plus training | Apprenticeship |
| Difficulty modeled | 2 / 5 | 2.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 31st pct | 40th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Machinists
- Mathematics
Only Tool & Die Makers
- Active Learning
Both lean on critical thinking, monitoring, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.