Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Salary in the United States
How much does a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I in the United States is $77,320 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.
However, a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,700
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,510 to $83,800
Key Factors That Influence Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Salaries
A Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I'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 Specifications/Design Engineer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I'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 Specifications/Design Engineer I (0-2 years): $77,313
How Do Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I 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 Specifications/Design Engineer Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $85,610.
California: $85,280.
Massachusetts: $84,140.
District of Columbia$85,610
California$85,280
Massachusetts$84,140
Washington$83,840
New Jersey$83,800
Alaska$83,700
Connecticut$82,630
New York$82,200
Hawaii$80,810
Rhode Island$80,160
Maryland$79,720
Minnesota$79,120
Colorado$78,890
Illinois$78,810
Oregon$78,520
Delaware$78,300
New Hampshire$78,160
Virginia$77,860
Pennsylvania$76,970
Nevada$76,520
North Dakota$76,370
Michigan$76,140
Wisconsin$76,060
Vermont$75,890
Texas$75,420
Maine$75,390
Arizona$75,340
Ohio$75,280
Georgia$74,570
Indiana$74,220
Wyoming$74,150
Utah$74,040
Iowa$73,990
Kansas$73,620
Louisiana$73,510
North Carolina$73,480
Missouri$73,460
Florida$73,160
Montana$73,000
Nebraska$72,840
Kentucky$72,760
South Carolina$72,450
Tennessee$72,250
Idaho$72,180
New Mexico$71,610
Oklahoma$71,490
Alabama$71,030
South Dakota$70,270
Arkansas$69,850
West Virginia$69,630
Mississippi$68,950
Top Paying Cities for Tool Specifications/Design Engineer Is
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: $97,520
San Francisco: $96,450
Oakland: $94,420
San Jose, CA$97,520
San Francisco, CA$96,450
Oakland, CA$94,420
New York, NY$89,020
Paramus, NJ$87,940
Queens Village, NY$87,940
Passaic, NJ$87,860
Bergenfield, NJ$87,860
Stamford, CT$87,690
Huntington, NY$87,650
Newark, NJ$87,080
Bridgeport, CT$86,920
Vallejo, CA$86,770
New Brunswick, NJ$86,730
Petaluma, CA$86,690
Middlesex, NJ$86,540
Somerset, NJ$86,490
Santa Cruz, CA$86,390
Boston, MA$85,920
Monterey, CA$85,640
Seattle, WA$85,470
Santa Rosa, CA$85,450
Los Angeles, CA$85,430
Juneau, AK$85,230
Washington, DC$85,140
Orange, CA$84,870
Santa Ana, CA$84,660
Long Beach, CA$84,590
Anaheim, CA$84,570
Anchorage, AK$84,530
Santa Maria, CA$84,300
Everett, WA$84,280
Danbury, CT$84,010
Bremerton, WA$83,910
Tacoma, WA$83,630
New Suffolk, NY$83,630
Sacramento, CA$83,600
Santa Barbara, CA$83,520
Trenton, NJ$83,430
San Diego, CA$83,430
Brockton, MA$83,350
Fairbanks, AK$83,160
Lompoc, CA$82,960
Lowell, MA$82,900
Ventura, CA$82,880
Nashua, NH$82,870
Stockton, CA$82,860
Modesto, CA$82,300
Poughkeepsie, NY$82,130
Olympia, WA$81,980
Kennewick, WA$81,980
New Haven, CT$81,950
Lawrence, MA$81,670
Hartford, CT$81,590
Riverside, CA$81,580
New Bedford, MA$81,500
Richland, WA$81,500
Bakersfield, CA$81,390
San Bernardino, CA$81,360
New Britain, CT$81,350
Atlantic City, NJ$81,350
New London, CT$81,320
Norwich, CT$81,300
Portsmouth, NH$81,280
Boulder, CO$81,120
Portland, OR$81,010
Worcester, MA$81,010
Minneapolis, MN$80,770
Philadelphia, PA$80,660
Honolulu, HI$80,400
Saint Paul, MN$80,370
Vineland, NJ$80,350
Providence, RI$80,120
Chicago, IL$79,900
Bellingham, WA$79,810
Springfield, MA$79,750
Baltimore, MD$79,720
Chico, CA$79,530
Pittsfield, MA$79,320
Manchester, NH$79,170
Spokane, WA$78,830
Denver, CO$78,830
Albany, NY$78,460
Troy, NY$78,430
Nassau, NY$78,350
Schenectady, NY$78,270
Wilmington, DE$78,210
Burlington, VT$78,100
Salem, OR$78,070
Portland, ME$77,830
Yakima, WA$77,750
Rochester, MN$77,510
Reno, NV$77,470
Fresno, CA$77,470
Milwaukee, WI$77,400
Detroit, MI$77,330
Ann Arbor, MI$77,310
Allentown, PA$77,300
Colorado Springs, CO$77,170
Syracuse, NY$77,130
Carson City, NV$77,130
Houston, TX$77,020
Eugene, OR$76,990
Gary, IN$76,890
Springfield, OR$76,830
Bismarck, ND$76,820
Galveston, TX$76,760
Medford, OR$76,650
Fort Collins, CO$76,610
Concord, NH$76,580
Austin, TX$76,550
Mesa, AZ$76,390
Reading, PA$76,380
Phoenix, AZ$76,370
Dallas, TX$76,350
Saint Cloud, MN$76,280
Madison, WI$76,170
Utica, NY$75,970
Rochester, NY$75,840
Des Moines, IA$75,830
Raleigh, NC$75,830
Atlanta, GA$75,710
Battle Creek, MI$75,690
Salt Lake City, UT$75,660
Lancaster, PA$75,550
Harrisburg, PA$75,440
Kansas City, MO$75,360
Champaign, IL$75,350
Kansas City, KS$75,350
Fort Worth, TX$75,340
Columbus, OH$75,330
Boca Raton, FL$75,310
Pittsburgh, PA$75,280
Richmond, VA$75,250
Indianapolis, IN$75,230
Cleveland, OH$75,220
Las Vegas, NV$75,130
Cincinnati, OH$75,130
Petersburg, VA$75,010
Huntsville, AL$74,900
Lansing, MI$74,850
Lebanon, PA$74,840
Pueblo, CO$74,830
Appleton, WI$74,810
Buffalo, NY$74,770
Dayton, OH$74,750
Racine, WI$74,740
Charlotte, NC$74,730
Saint Louis, MO$74,700
York, PA$74,660
Elkhart, IN$74,660
Gastonia, NC$74,640
Billings, MT$74,630
Beaumont, TX$74,600
Lorain, OH$74,590
Benton Harbor, MI$74,570
Toledo, OH$74,560
Binghamton, NY$74,520
Rock Hill, SC$74,510
Rockford, IL$74,470
Springfield, IL$74,440
Elyria, OH$74,430
Fargo, ND$74,430
Flagstaff, AZ$74,380
Fort Lauderdale, FL$74,330
Duluth, MN$74,290
Miami, FL$74,290
Cheyenne, WY$74,230
Grand Forks, ND$74,230
Bangor, ME$74,060
Cedar Rapids, IA$73,980
Durham, NC$73,950
Louisville, KY$73,940
Grand Rapids, MI$73,920
Hialeah, FL$73,920
Casper, WY$73,810
Scranton, PA$73,720
New Orleans, LA$73,690
Virginia Beach, VA$73,680
Akron, OH$73,650
Peoria, IL$73,550
Sarasota, FL$73,530
Nashville, TN$73,480
Omaha, NE$73,480
Green Bay, WI$73,480
Baton Rouge, LA$73,440
Charleston, SC$73,420
Jamestown, NY$73,380
Davenport, IA$73,380
Tucson, AZ$73,340
Saint Petersburg, FL$73,300
Tampa, FL$73,280
Evansville, IN$73,240
Port Arthur, TX$73,240
Bradenton, FL$73,200
Santa Fe, NM$73,070
Orlando, FL$72,930
Clearwater, FL$72,900
Canton, OH$72,740
La Crosse, WI$72,740
Albuquerque, NM$72,690
Newport News, VA$72,690
High Point, NC$72,660
Ogden, UT$72,630
Corpus Christi, TX$72,570
Norfolk, VA$72,520
Laramie, WY$72,520
Rock Island, IL$72,480
Jacksonville, FL$72,460
Saginaw, MI$72,460
Salisbury, NC$72,440
Boise, ID$72,420
Moline, IL$72,390
Fort Myers, FL$72,360
Memphis, TN$72,350
Tulsa, OK$72,310
Waterloo, IA$72,260
Spartanburg, SC$72,180
Lincoln, NE$72,150
Fort Wayne, IN$72,130
Provo, UT$72,120
Cedar Falls, IA$72,030
San Antonio, TX$72,000
Greensboro, NC$71,970
South Bend, IN$71,960
Savannah, GA$71,880
Muskegon, MI$71,840
Birmingham, AL$71,840
Winston Salem, NC$71,800
Lake Charles, LA$71,610
Anderson, IN$71,600
Lexington, KY$71,570
Augusta, GA$71,550
Greenville, SC$71,550
Lima, OH$71,490
Wichita, KS$71,480
Tuscaloosa, AL$71,480
Columbia, SC$71,410
Springfield, OH$71,400
Asheville, NC$71,270
Bloomington, IN$71,220
Knoxville, TN$70,940
Shreveport, LA$70,930
Wilmington, NC$70,830
Roanoke, VA$70,830
Topeka, KS$70,690
Frankfort, KY$70,680
Oklahoma City, OK$70,630
Chillicothe, OH$70,600
Longview, TX$70,590
Melbourne, FL$70,580
Sioux Falls, SD$70,460
Mobile, AL$70,450
Terre Haute, IN$70,420
Altoona, PA$70,380
Amarillo, TX$70,320
Killeen, TX$70,300
Fayetteville, AR$70,240
Chattanooga, TN$70,210
Sioux City, IA$70,140
Idaho Falls, ID$70,130
Lynchburg, VA$70,070
Gainesville, FL$69,970
Portsmouth, OH$69,930
Little Rock, AR$69,910
Lafayette, LA$69,880
Youngstown, OH$69,880
Clarksville, TN$69,830
Daytona Beach, FL$69,830
Pensacola, FL$69,820
Temple, TX$69,810
Hopkinsville, KY$69,590
Erie, PA$69,570
Florence, SC$69,540
Charleston, WV$69,420
Great Falls, MT$69,380
Macon, GA$69,270
Tallahassee, FL$69,260
Fayetteville, NC$69,250
Waco, TX$69,230
Helena, MT$69,180
Pine Bluff, AR$69,150
Vincennes, IN$69,050
Lubbock, TX$69,020
Alamogordo, NM$68,980
Twin Falls, ID$68,910
Rapid City, SD$68,880
Greenville, MS$68,740
Huntington, WV$68,740
Jackson, MS$68,740
Parkersburg, WV$68,660
Montgomery, AL$68,640
Wichita Falls, TX$68,570
Springfield, MO$68,570
Biloxi, MS$68,530
Monroe, LA$68,450
Johnstown, PA$68,400
Sumter, SC$68,370
Columbus, GA$68,360
Pascagoula, MS$68,210
Abilene, TX$68,210
Kingsport, TN$68,010
Albany, GA$68,010
Gulfport, MS$67,990
Alexandria, LA$67,730
Fort Smith, AR$67,540
El Paso, TX$67,330
Las Cruces, NM$66,980
Harlingen, TX$66,780
Pocatello, ID$66,770
Florence, AL$66,670
Brownsville, TX$66,660
Mcallen, TX$66,490
Dothan, AL$66,390
Columbus, MS$65,930
Altus, OK$65,570
Lawton, OK$65,420
Pierre, SD$65,140
What Skills Can Increase a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 7.13% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
AutoCAD (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
Billing (Mentioned in 2.18% Job Postings): Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
7.13%
AutoCAD
2.33%
Billing
2.18%
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 Specifications/Design Engineer I's salary.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Presentation
$87,372
13%
Hard Working
$86,598
12%
Networking
$85,052
10%
Initiative
$83,506
8%
RFP
$83,506
8%
Customer Service
$82,732
7%
Get Latest Data
Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $86,555.
While startup companies pay approximate $73,224.
Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$73,224
Growth Stage
51~500
$77,443
Established
501~5000
$83,584
Enterprise
5000+
$86,555
Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I 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 Biotechnology and Internet
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average.
In contrast, Tool Specifications/Design Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology
$96,650
$46.0
25%
Internet
$92,784
$45.0
20%
Energy & Utilities
$88,918
$43.0
15%
Aerospace & Defense
$85,052
$41.0
10%
Insurance
$85,052
$41.0
10%
How Education impacts a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Tool Specifications/Design Engineer Is enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I with a Associate's Degree is between
$71,973
and $77,468).
Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I
No Diploma11.1%
High School11.1%
Associates27.8%
Bachelors50.0%
Masters11.1%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
11.1%
High School
11.1%
Associates
27.8%
Bachelors
50.0%
Masters
11.1%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$71,510
Average$77,320/year
$83,800
$5,959
Average$6,443/month
$6,983
$1,375
Average$1,487/week
$1,612
$34
Average$37/hour
$40
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$83,800
$6,983
$1,612
$40
Average
$77,320
$6,443
$1,487
$37
25th Percentile
$71,510
$5,959
$1,375
$34
Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Intermediate Tool Design Engineer role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$90,700 - a projected growth of
17%
over your current level.
Salaries of jobs related to Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I
Salary Trends for Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I
Salaries for a Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $70,043 in 2023
to around $70,134 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$70,043
2024
$70,399
2025
$70,134
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$70,043
2024
$70,399
2025
$70,134
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I
Here are companies hiring for Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I?
The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Tool Specifications/Design Engineer I roles,
with salaries approximately 25% 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.
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