Tool and Die Makers
Also called: Tool and Die Machinist, Tool and Die Maker, Tool and Fixture Specialist, Tool MakerAnalyze 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 4 of its 17 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 9.2% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.8% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 84% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $64,800 | $51,430 to $73,050 | 690 |
| Arizona | $59,140 | $46,650 to $77,650 | 310 |
| Arkansas | $56,840 | $47,470 to $65,660 | 290 |
| California | $77,030 | $54,640 to $92,510 | 1,790 |
| Colorado | $63,800 | $48,750 to $77,820 | 160 |
| Connecticut | $77,540 | $61,060 to $88,460 | 1,880 |
| Florida | $63,890 | $50,410 to $76,120 | 440 |
| Georgia | $60,020 | $49,780 to $71,530 | 850 |
| Idaho | $57,800 | $48,530 to $75,850 | 50 |
| Illinois | $61,170 | $47,030 to $74,560 | 5,220 |
| Indiana | $68,050 | $59,240 to $82,150 | 4,090 |
| Iowa | $65,000 | $58,950 to $74,330 | 760 |
| Kansas | $83,890 | $62,540 to $84,140 | 660 |
| Kentucky | $66,570 | $53,830 to $81,000 | 1,900 |
| Louisiana | $46,950 | $45,150 to $58,120 | 170 |
| Maine | $79,910 | $62,250 to $82,840 | 80 |
| Maryland | $58,110 | $52,410 to $80,030 | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $67,230 | $55,430 to $79,900 | 850 |
| Michigan | $65,590 | $55,700 to $80,590 | 9,420 |
| Minnesota | $71,020 | $62,390 to $82,200 | 1,150 |
| Mississippi | $57,980 | $43,560 to $70,920 | 300 |
| Missouri | $60,810 | $48,030 to $83,620 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $69,150 | $60,850 to $80,030 | 360 |
| Nevada | $61,350 | $60,650 to $77,610 | 220 |
| New Hampshire | $69,910 | $62,340 to $82,030 | 250 |
| New Jersey | $74,460 | $60,480 to $85,430 | 540 |
| New Mexico | $47,960 | $43,980 to $63,960 | 40 |
| New York | $68,080 | $56,890 to $82,660 | 1,270 |
| North Carolina | $61,060 | $49,610 to $70,510 | 1,580 |
| North Dakota | $73,130 | $62,740 to $82,150 | 70 |
| Ohio | $62,280 | $48,960 to $75,410 | 5,520 |
| Oklahoma | $65,870 | $46,230 to $74,670 | 330 |
| Oregon | $73,930 | $53,650 to $85,850 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 | $49,610 to $71,810 | 3,380 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,820 | $33,060 to $50,980 | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $63,430 | $53,350 to $78,320 | 260 |
| South Carolina | $65,250 | $58,250 to $77,000 | 870 |
| South Dakota | $59,770 | $51,590 to $64,700 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $60,760 | $49,230 to $72,710 | 2,930 |
| Texas | $55,470 | $41,900 to $72,470 | 1,710 |
| Utah | $56,740 | $46,970 to $77,440 | 270 |
| Vermont | $69,300 | $57,650 to $88,140 | 140 |
| Virginia | $64,050 | $52,210 to $74,660 | 390 |
| Washington | $109,390 | $70,550 to $116,850 | 1,510 |
| West Virginia | $46,190 | $44,890 to $62,350 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $68,120 | $59,680 to $77,160 | 2,450 |
Nationally: $64,050. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 4 of its 17 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators. | Not published |
| Not much | Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools, using machine tools, hand tools, or welders. | Not published |
| Not much | Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies. | Not published |
| Not much | Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | File, grind, shim, and adjust different parts to properly fit them together. | Not published |
| AI + software | 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. | Not published |
See all 17 tasks
| Not much | Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools, using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, emery cloths, or power grinders. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect finished dies for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary. | Not published |
| Not much | Lift, position, and secure machined parts on surface plates or worktables, using hoists, vises, v-blocks, or angle plates. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness or heat tolerance. | Not published |
| Not much | Measure, mark, and scribe metal or plastic stock to lay out machining, using instruments such as protractors, micrometers, scribes, or rulers. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up and operate drill presses to drill and tap holes in parts for assembly. | Not published |
| Not much | Cut, shape, and trim blanks or blocks to specified lengths or shapes, using power saws, power shears, rules, and hand tools. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design jigs, fixtures, and templates for use as work aids in the fabrication of parts or products. | Not published |
| Not much | Set pyrometer controls of heat-treating furnaces and feed or place parts, tools, or assemblies into furnaces to harden. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop and design new tools and dies, using computer-aided design software. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 17 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 17 tasks fall under 18 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #38 Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Operate cutting or grinding equipment | |||
| Inspect completed work or finished products | |||
| Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment | |||
| Position workpieces or materials on equipment | |||
| Design industrial systems or equipment | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects |
Show all 18 activities
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Repair workpieces or products | |||
| Shape materials to create products | |||
| Cut materials | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Drill holes in earth or materials | |||
| Join parts using soldering, welding, or brazing techniques | |||
| Operate industrial processing or production equipment | |||
| Operate lifting or moving equipment |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Math or a calculation30%
- A chart or visualization20%
- An explanation or answer18%
- Advice or a recommendation8%
- A design mockup8%
How they worked with Claude
52% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for tool and die makers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 3,082 moves out
- 1 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 13%
- 2 Software Developers, Applications (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 12%
- 3 Machinists Moderate +1.0% 8%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 3,465 moves in
- 1 Machinists Moderate +1.0% 12%
- 2 Drafters, All Other Very high -7.3% 10%
- 3 Software Developers, Applications (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 10% less than high school
- 40% high school
- 41% postsecondary certificate
- 10% associate's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 18 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 3% less than high school
- 36% high school
- 31% some college
- 27% associate's
- 2% bachelor's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 530 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
1 program: Tool and Die Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
29.7% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 20.8% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | 3.2% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 24 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Tool and Die Makers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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