Welders & Cutters vs Tool & Die Makers
Median pay is about $10k higher for Tool & Die Makers. The usual entry education is high school plus cert for Welders & Cutters 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 | Welders & Cutters | Tool & Die Makers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $53,750 | $64,050, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $46,790 | $51,490, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $63,010 | $78,770, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +2.4% Growing, higher | -9.2% Declining |
| Openings a year | 40,300 | 4,300 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school plus cert | Apprenticeship |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.2 / 5 | 2.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 9th pct | 40th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: monitoring, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, active learning.
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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.