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Tool and Die Maker III Salary in the United States

How much does a Tool and Die Maker III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Tool and Die Maker III in the United States is $70,557 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

However, a Tool and Die Maker III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,710
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,044 to $75,348
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,204
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Tool and Die Maker III Salaries

A Tool and Die Maker III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Tool and Die Maker III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Tool and Die Maker III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Tool and Die Maker I (0-1 years): $48,613
  • Tool and Die Maker II (1-3 years): $62,937
  • Tool and Die Maker III (3-5 years): $70,557
  • Tool and Die Maker IV (5-7 years): $78,796
  • Tool, Die, and Gauge Making Supervisor I (7+ years): $83,687
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Tool and Die Maker I0-1 years$48,613
Tool and Die Maker II1-3 years$62,937
Tool and Die Maker III3-5 years$70,557
Tool and Die Maker IV5-7 years$78,796
Tool, Die, and Gauge Making Supervisor I7+ years$83,687
View as Graph

How Do Tool and Die Maker III Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Tool and Die Maker IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $78,121.
  • California: $77,824.
  • Massachusetts: $76,787.

Top Paying Cities for Tool and Die Maker IIIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $88,994
  • San Francisco: $88,019
  • Oakland: $86,164

What Skills Can Increase a Tool and Die Maker III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 6.38% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 3.1% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
  • Production Support (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Production support covers the practices and disciplines of supporting the IT systems/applications which are currently being used by the end users. A production support person/team is responsible for receiving incidents and requests from end-users, analyzing these and either responding to the end user with a solution or escalating it to the other IT teams. These teams may include developers, system engineers and database administrators.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 6.38%
CAD 3.1%
Production Support 1.96%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Tool and Die Maker III's salary.

  • Prioritization: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • AutoCAD: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prioritization $75,496
7%
AutoCAD $72,674
3%
Leadership $72,674
3%
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Tool and Die Maker III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Tool and Die Maker III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $79,216. While startup companies pay approximate $66,969.

Tool and Die Maker III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $66,969
Growth Stage 51~500 $70,835
Established 501~5000 $76,483
Enterprise 5000+ $79,216

Tool and Die Maker III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Tool and Die Maker III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Tool and Die Maker positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Tool and Die Maker III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Tool and Die Maker III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$91,724$44.030%
Energy & Utilities$84,668$41.020%
Financial Services$81,141$39.015%
Biotechnology$77,613$37.010%
Aerospace & Defense$74,085$36.05%

How Education impacts a Tool and Die Maker III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Tool and Die Maker III enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Tool and Die Maker III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $68,542 and $73,119.

Tool and Die Maker III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Tool and Die Maker III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 50.0%
High School 50.0%
Associates 28.6%
Bachelors 21.4%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Tool and Die Maker III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Tool and Die Maker III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$63,044
Average $70,557/year
$75,348
$5,254
Average $5,880/month
$6,279
$1,212
Average $1,357/week
$1,449
$30
Average $34/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $75,348 $6,279 $1,449 $36
Average $70,557 $5,880 $1,357 $34
25th Percentile $63,044 $5,254 $1,212 $30

Tool and Die Maker III Salary Growth & Career Path

Tool and Die Maker III

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Advancement

For a Tool and Die Maker III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Tool and Die Maker IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $78,796 - a projected growth of 12% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Tool and Die Maker III

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Tool and Die Maker III

Here are companies hiring for Tool and Die Maker III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Tool and Die Maker III

1. Where can a Tool and Die Maker III earn the most?

A Tool and Die Maker III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Tool and Die Maker III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Tool and Die Maker III is $88,994.

2. What is the highest pay for Tool and Die Maker III?

The highest pay for Tool and Die Maker III is $79,710.

3. What is the lowest pay for Tool and Die Maker III?

The lowest pay for Tool and Die Maker III is $56,204.

4. What are the responsibilities of Tool and Die Maker III?

Builds and repairs custom machine shop tools using machining equipment and measuring instruments. Utilizes blueprints, sketches, and computer-aided design models to create or modify prototypes, tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and molds. Analyzes project requirements and specifications to select the optimal machines, tools, and methods for production and documents processes and sequence of operations for future reference. Calculates the dimensions and tolerances required to set up the machine tools. Operates lathes, grinders, milling, and boring machines to produce tools. Requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works independently within established procedures associated with the specific job function. Has gained proficiency in multiple competencies relevant to the job. Typically requires 3-5 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Tool and Die Maker III?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Tool and Die Maker III roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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