Wages for Toolmakers
Toolmakers create and repair tools that shape, cut and form materials used to produce products such as furniture, clothing and aircraft parts. Toolmakers work in manufacturing plants that produce tools, or in machine shops that only produce specialized machine tools for other manufacturers. About four or five years of formal classroom training and apprenticeships are needed to work in this profession. State certification is not necessary for employment, but having it enhances opportunities and salaries.
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Median Salary
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Toolmakers normally work only one eight-hour shift a day, though overtime and weekend work may happen during peak production. They work in tool rooms or production floors. Exposure to machines can be hazardous, so toolmakers must wear safety glasses to protect against flying debris and earplugs for noise. Their median salary is $46,900 per year, with a range of $31,580 to $71,150, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of May 2009. This converts to a median salary of $22.55 hourly, with a range of $15.18 to $34.21.
Employers
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Metalworker machinery manufacturers employ the greatest number of toolmakers, with 23 percent of the 73,640 jobs. They pay slightly under the median at $21.72 per hour or $45,180 per year. The highest paying employers are motor vehicle manufacturers with pay at $33.50 per hour or $69,680 per year. They contain only 2,270 jobs making them a slightly harder employer to break into.
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States
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The state with the greatest concentration of toolmakers is Michigan, with 2.97 toolmakers per 1,000 workers. This translates to 11,590 jobs paying $26.17 per hour or $54,440 per year. Michigan also ranks fifth in terms of salary. The state with the highest paying employers is Connecticut, with compensation at $28.52 per hour or $59,320 per year. However, it only offer 2,530 positions.
Outlook
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The BLS sees jobs for toolmakers declining by eight percent until 2018 primarily because of advancing technology, which requires fewer toolmakers to perform the same jobs, and foreign competition. Workers are still needed to replace those that are retiring or leaving for other positions. And certain parts of the country have difficulty attracting qualified workers. Finally, the number of individuals being trained in this profession is generally smaller than the number of available openings.
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