Hourly Wage for Tool Design Engineer I Salary in the United States
What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Tool Design Engineer I?
As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Tool Design Engineer I in the United States is
$37, which translates to an annual salary of about $77,312.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors.
Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $43 per hour
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34 to $40 per hour
Key Factors That Influence Tool Design Engineer I Salaries
A Tool 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 Design Engineer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Tool 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 Design Engineer I (0-2 years): $77,312
Tool Design Engineer II (2-4 years): $90,691
Tool Design Engineer III (4-7 years): $103,275
Tool Design Engineer IV (7+ years): $125,220
Tool Design Engineer V (7-10 years): $147,641
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Tool Design Engineer I
0-2 years
$77,312
Tool Design Engineer II
2-4 years
$90,691
Tool Design Engineer III
4-7 years
$103,275
Tool Design Engineer IV
7+ years
$125,220
Tool Design Engineer V
7-10 years
$147,641
$77,312Tool Desi...
$90,691Tool Desi...
$103,275Tool Desi...
$125,220Tool Desi...
$147,641Tool Desi...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Tool 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 Design Engineer Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $85,600.
California: $85,275.
Massachusetts: $84,139.
District of Columbia$85,600
California$85,275
Massachusetts$84,139
Washington$83,829
New Jersey$83,798
Alaska$83,690
Connecticut$82,623
New York$82,190
Hawaii$80,807
Rhode Island$80,157
Maryland$79,716
Minnesota$79,113
Colorado$78,881
Illinois$78,804
Oregon$78,510
Delaware$78,294
New Hampshire$78,158
Virginia$77,853
Pennsylvania$76,964
Nevada$76,516
North Dakota$76,369
Michigan$76,137
Wisconsin$76,052
Vermont$75,882
Texas$75,410
Maine$75,379
Arizona$75,333
Ohio$75,279
Georgia$74,567
Indiana$74,212
Wyoming$74,142
Utah$74,034
Iowa$73,988
Kansas$73,616
Louisiana$73,508
North Carolina$73,470
Missouri$73,454
Florida$73,153
Montana$72,990
Nebraska$72,836
Kentucky$72,751
South Carolina$72,441
Tennessee$72,248
Idaho$72,171
New Mexico$71,606
Oklahoma$71,483
Alabama$71,027
South Dakota$70,261
Arkansas$69,844
West Virginia$69,619
Mississippi$68,947
Top Paying Cities for Tool 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: $97,514
San Francisco: $96,446
Oakland: $94,413
San Jose, CA$97,514
San Francisco, CA$96,446
Oakland, CA$94,413
New York, NY$89,016
Paramus, NJ$87,934
Queens Village, NY$87,930
Passaic, NJ$87,857
Bergenfield, NJ$87,850
Stamford, CT$87,680
Huntington, NY$87,648
Newark, NJ$87,077
Bridgeport, CT$86,913
Vallejo, CA$86,760
New Brunswick, NJ$86,729
Petaluma, CA$86,682
Middlesex, NJ$86,535
Somerset, NJ$86,481
Santa Cruz, CA$86,381
Boston, MA$85,909
Monterey, CA$85,638
Seattle, WA$85,461
Santa Rosa, CA$85,445
Los Angeles, CA$85,422
Juneau, AK$85,221
Washington, DC$85,136
Orange, CA$84,861
Santa Ana, CA$84,657
Long Beach, CA$84,579
Anaheim, CA$84,564
Anchorage, AK$84,525
Santa Maria, CA$84,293
Everett, WA$84,278
Danbury, CT$84,006
Bremerton, WA$83,899
Tacoma, WA$83,621
New Suffolk, NY$83,619
Sacramento, CA$83,597
Santa Barbara, CA$83,512
Trenton, NJ$83,427
San Diego, CA$83,427
Brockton, MA$83,342
Fairbanks, AK$83,153
Lompoc, CA$82,956
Lowell, MA$82,893
Ventura, CA$82,878
Nashua, NH$82,863
Stockton, CA$82,855
Modesto, CA$82,291
Poughkeepsie, NY$82,121
Olympia, WA$81,974
Kennewick, WA$81,974
New Haven, CT$81,943
Lawrence, MA$81,665
Hartford, CT$81,587
Riverside, CA$81,572
New Bedford, MA$81,495
Richland, WA$81,495
Bakersfield, CA$81,386
San Bernardino, CA$81,355
New Britain, CT$81,348
Atlantic City, NJ$81,348
New London, CT$81,317
Norwich, CT$81,294
Portsmouth, NH$81,278
Boulder, CO$81,114
Portland, OR$81,008
Worcester, MA$81,000
Minneapolis, MN$80,760
Philadelphia, PA$80,652
Honolulu, HI$80,397
Saint Paul, MN$80,360
Vineland, NJ$80,343
Providence, RI$80,118
Chicago, IL$79,894
Bellingham, WA$79,801
Springfield, MA$79,740
Baltimore, MD$79,716
Chico, CA$79,523
Pittsfield, MA$79,314
Manchester, NH$79,167
Spokane, WA$78,827
Denver, CO$78,820
Albany, NY$78,456
Troy, NY$78,425
Nassau, NY$78,343
Schenectady, NY$78,263
Wilmington, DE$78,201
Burlington, VT$78,093
Salem, OR$78,062
Portland, ME$77,822
Yakima, WA$77,745
Rochester, MN$77,505
Reno, NV$77,467
Fresno, CA$77,467
Milwaukee, WI$77,397
Detroit, MI$77,320
Ann Arbor, MI$77,307
Allentown, PA$77,297
Colorado Springs, CO$77,165
Syracuse, NY$77,126
Carson City, NV$77,126
Houston, TX$77,018
Eugene, OR$76,980
Gary, IN$76,887
Springfield, OR$76,825
Bismarck, ND$76,809
Galveston, TX$76,755
Medford, OR$76,639
Fort Collins, CO$76,608
Concord, NH$76,570
Austin, TX$76,547
Mesa, AZ$76,384
Reading, PA$76,377
Phoenix, AZ$76,369
Dallas, TX$76,346
Saint Cloud, MN$76,271
Madison, WI$76,168
Utica, NY$75,959
Rochester, NY$75,835
Des Moines, IA$75,828
Raleigh, NC$75,820
Atlanta, GA$75,704
Battle Creek, MI$75,681
Salt Lake City, UT$75,658
Lancaster, PA$75,542
Harrisburg, PA$75,433
Kansas City, MO$75,356
Champaign, IL$75,341
Kansas City, KS$75,341
Fort Worth, TX$75,333
Columbus, OH$75,320
Boca Raton, FL$75,302
Pittsburgh, PA$75,271
Richmond, VA$75,240
Indianapolis, IN$75,225
Cleveland, OH$75,217
Las Vegas, NV$75,124
Cincinnati, OH$75,124
Petersburg, VA$75,008
Huntsville, AL$74,892
Lansing, MI$74,840
Lebanon, PA$74,830
Pueblo, CO$74,823
Appleton, WI$74,799
Buffalo, NY$74,768
Dayton, OH$74,745
Racine, WI$74,730
Charlotte, NC$74,722
Saint Louis, MO$74,699
York, PA$74,652
Elkhart, IN$74,652
Gastonia, NC$74,638
Billings, MT$74,619
Beaumont, TX$74,598
Lorain, OH$74,583
Benton Harbor, MI$74,567
Toledo, OH$74,552
Binghamton, NY$74,513
Rock Hill, SC$74,506
Rockford, IL$74,467
Springfield, IL$74,436
Elyria, OH$74,428
Fargo, ND$74,428
Flagstaff, AZ$74,374
Fort Lauderdale, FL$74,328
Duluth, MN$74,281
Miami, FL$74,281
Cheyenne, WY$74,227
Grand Forks, ND$74,227
Bangor, ME$74,057
Cedar Rapids, IA$73,972
Durham, NC$73,940
Louisville, KY$73,933
Grand Rapids, MI$73,918
Hialeah, FL$73,910
Casper, WY$73,802
Scranton, PA$73,709
New Orleans, LA$73,686
Virginia Beach, VA$73,678
Akron, OH$73,640
Peoria, IL$73,539
Sarasota, FL$73,524
Nashville, TN$73,470
Omaha, NE$73,470
Green Bay, WI$73,470
Baton Rouge, LA$73,431
Charleston, SC$73,415
Jamestown, NY$73,377
Davenport, IA$73,377
Tucson, AZ$73,338
Saint Petersburg, FL$73,292
Tampa, FL$73,276
Evansville, IN$73,230
Port Arthur, TX$73,230
Bradenton, FL$73,199
Santa Fe, NM$73,060
Orlando, FL$72,921
Clearwater, FL$72,897
Canton, OH$72,735
La Crosse, WI$72,735
Albuquerque, NM$72,689
Newport News, VA$72,681
High Point, NC$72,658
Ogden, UT$72,627
Corpus Christi, TX$72,565
Norfolk, VA$72,519
Laramie, WY$72,519
Rock Island, IL$72,472
Saginaw, MI$72,457
Jacksonville, FL$72,449
Salisbury, NC$72,434
Boise, ID$72,418
Moline, IL$72,379
Fort Myers, FL$72,356
Memphis, TN$72,341
Tulsa, OK$72,302
Waterloo, IA$72,256
Spartanburg, SC$72,178
Lincoln, NE$72,140
Fort Wayne, IN$72,124
Provo, UT$72,117
Cedar Falls, IA$72,024
San Antonio, TX$71,993
Greensboro, NC$71,962
South Bend, IN$71,954
Savannah, GA$71,869
Muskegon, MI$71,838
Birmingham, AL$71,831
Winston Salem, NC$71,793
Lake Charles, LA$71,606
Anderson, IN$71,591
Lexington, KY$71,568
Augusta, GA$71,545
Greenville, SC$71,545
Lima, OH$71,483
Wichita, KS$71,475
Tuscaloosa, AL$71,475
Columbia, SC$71,405
Springfield, OH$71,390
Asheville, NC$71,266
Bloomington, IN$71,212
Knoxville, TN$70,934
Shreveport, LA$70,926
Wilmington, NC$70,826
Roanoke, VA$70,826
Topeka, KS$70,686
Frankfort, KY$70,678
Oklahoma City, OK$70,625
Chillicothe, OH$70,594
Longview, TX$70,586
Melbourne, FL$70,578
Sioux Falls, SD$70,454
Mobile, AL$70,447
Terre Haute, IN$70,416
Altoona, PA$70,369
Amarillo, TX$70,315
Killeen, TX$70,292
Fayetteville, AR$70,230
Chattanooga, TN$70,207
Sioux City, IA$70,137
Idaho Falls, ID$70,122
Lynchburg, VA$70,060
Gainesville, FL$69,960
Portsmouth, OH$69,921
Little Rock, AR$69,906
Lafayette, LA$69,875
Youngstown, OH$69,875
Daytona Beach, FL$69,828
Clarksville, TN$69,820
Pensacola, FL$69,813
Temple, TX$69,807
Hopkinsville, KY$69,581
Erie, PA$69,565
Florence, SC$69,534
Charleston, WV$69,411
Great Falls, MT$69,372
Macon, GA$69,264
Tallahassee, FL$69,256
Fayetteville, NC$69,241
Waco, TX$69,225
Helena, MT$69,171
Pine Bluff, AR$69,142
Vincennes, IN$69,047
Lubbock, TX$69,016
Alamogordo, NM$68,970
Twin Falls, ID$68,900
Rapid City, SD$68,877
Jackson, MS$68,738
Huntington, WV$68,733
Greenville, MS$68,730
Parkersburg, WV$68,652
Montgomery, AL$68,638
Wichita Falls, TX$68,560
Springfield, MO$68,560
Biloxi, MS$68,522
Monroe, LA$68,444
Johnstown, PA$68,390
Sumter, SC$68,359
Columbus, GA$68,352
Pascagoula, MS$68,205
Abilene, TX$68,205
Kingsport, TN$68,004
Albany, GA$68,004
Gulfport, MS$67,980
Alexandria, LA$67,725
Fort Smith, AR$67,532
El Paso, TX$67,323
Las Cruces, NM$66,975
Harlingen, TX$66,779
Pocatello, ID$66,767
Florence, AL$66,666
Brownsville, TX$66,651
Mcallen, TX$66,488
Dothan, AL$66,380
Columbus, MS$65,921
Altus, OK$65,561
Lawton, OK$65,414
Pierre, SD$65,135
What Skills Can Increase a Tool 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 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
$87,363
13%
Hard Working
$86,589
12%
Networking
$85,043
10%
Initiative
$83,497
8%
RFP
$83,497
8%
Customer Service
$82,724
7%
Get Latest Data
Tool Design Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Tool 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 $86,473.
While startup companies pay approximate $73,130.
Tool Design Engineer I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$73,130
Growth Stage
51~500
$77,347
Established
501~5000
$83,506
Enterprise
5000+
$86,473
Tool Design Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Tool 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 Design Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Tool Design Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Tool Design Engineer I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology
$96,640
$46.0
25%
Internet
$92,774
$45.0
20%
Energy & Utilities
$88,909
$43.0
15%
Aerospace & Defense
$85,043
$41.0
10%
Insurance
$85,043
$41.0
10%
How Education impacts a Tool Design Engineer I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Tool 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 Design Engineer I with a Associate's Degree is between
$72,314
and $77,835).
Tool Design Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Tool 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 Design Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Tool 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.
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
Hourly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$71,502
Average$77,312/year
$83,793
$5,959
Average$6,443/month
$6,983
$1,375
Average$1,487/week
$1,611
$34
Average$37/hour
$40
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$83,793
$6,983
$1,611
$40
Average
$77,312
$6,443
$1,487
$37
25th Percentile
$71,502
$5,959
$1,375
$34
Salaries of jobs related to Tool Design Engineer I
Salaries for a Tool 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 Design Engineer I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Tool 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 Design Engineer I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Tool Design Engineer I
Here are companies hiring for Tool 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 Design Engineer I
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Tool Design Engineer I?
The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Tool Design Engineer I roles,
with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.
2. What are the responsibilities of Tool Design Engineer I?
Designs and develops tools and machinery used to facilitate and optimize manufacturing processes. Reviews product design and build requirements to determine tooling concepts, design options, testing plans, and specifications. Develops designs for fixtures, jigs, gauges, cutting and forming tools, carts, racks, and other items to support production. Utilizes Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to create accurate, complete, and concise design models and documentation to fabricate tools. Estimates costs, resource requirements, and materials required for tools. May manage the sourcing, quoting, or procurement of purchased tools. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
3. What are the skills of Tool Design Engineer I
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties.
Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed,
each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
1.)
Analysis:
Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
2.)
AutoCAD:
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.
3.)
Billing:
Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources.
We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right.
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