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Tool Design Engineer V Salary in the United States

How much does a Tool Design Engineer V make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Tool Design Engineer V in the United States is $147,635 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $71.

However, a Tool Design Engineer V's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $157,749
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $141,809 to $152,929
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $136,505
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Tool Design Engineer V Salaries

A Tool Design Engineer V'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 V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Tool Design Engineer V'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 II (2-4 years): $90,690
  • Tool Design Engineer III (4-7 years): $103,273
  • Tool Design Engineer IV (7+ years): $125,222
  • Tool Design Engineer V (7-10 years): $147,635
  • Tool Design Engineering Manager (10+ years): $152,919
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Tool Design Engineer II2-4 years$90,690
Tool Design Engineer III4-7 years$103,273
Tool Design Engineer IV7+ years$125,222
Tool Design Engineer V7-10 years$147,635
Tool Design Engineering Manager10+ years$152,919
View as Graph

How Do Tool Design Engineer Vs 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 Vs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $163,461.
  • California: $162,841.
  • Massachusetts: $160,671.

Top Paying Cities for Tool Design Engineer V

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: $186,212
  • San Francisco: $184,173
  • Oakland: $180,292

What Skills Can Increase a Tool Design Engineer V's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 7.69% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Open Access (Mentioned in 3.85% Job Postings): Open Access (OA) refers to all electronic resources that are made widely available on the internet without licensing and copyright restrictions. Open Access resources can include articles, journals, books, conference proceedings, theses, music, etc.
  • Feasibility Studies (Mentioned in 1.92% Job Postings): A feasibility study is the initial design stage to any project or plan. As the name implies, a feasibility study is an analysis into the viability of an idea.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 7.69%
Open Access 3.85%
Feasibility Studies 1.92%
See More Skills

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 V's salary.

  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • New Product Introduction: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Root Cause Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Verbal Communication $165,351
12%
New Product Introduction $163,875
11%
Root Cause Analysis $163,875
11%
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Tool Design Engineer V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Tool Design Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $165,269. While startup companies pay approximate $139,814.

Tool Design Engineer V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $139,814
Growth Stage 51~500 $147,869
Established 501~5000 $159,596
Enterprise 5000+ $165,269

Tool Design Engineer V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Tool Design Engineer V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Tool Design Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Tool Design Engineer V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Tool Design Engineer V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$177,162$85.020%
Biotechnology$169,780$82.015%
Internet$169,780$82.015%
Energy & Utilities$162,398$78.010%
Telecom$162,398$78.010%

How Education impacts an Tool Design Engineer V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Tool Design Engineer V 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 Design Engineer V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $146,953 and $158,291.

Tool Design Engineer V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Tool Design Engineer V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 23.1%
High School 23.1%
Associates 34.6%
Bachelors 38.5%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 3.8%
View as Graph

Tool Design Engineer V Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Tool Design Engineer V'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 August 01, 2026
$141,809
Average $147,635/year
$152,929
$11,817
Average $12,303/month
$12,744
$2,727
Average $2,839/week
$2,941
$68
Average $71/hour
$74
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $152,929 $12,744 $2,941 $74
Average $147,635 $12,303 $2,839 $71
25th Percentile $141,809 $11,817 $2,727 $68

Tool Design Engineer V Salary Growth & Career Path

Tool Design Engineer V

Next Role

For a Tool Design Engineer V, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Tool Design Engineering Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $152,919 - a projected growth of 4% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Tool Design Engineer V

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

Common company salaries for Tool Design Engineer V

Here are companies hiring for Tool Design Engineer V and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Tool Design Engineer V

1. Where can a Tool Design Engineer V earn the most?

A Tool Design Engineer V'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 Design Engineer V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Tool Design Engineer V is $186,212.

2. What is the highest pay for Tool Design Engineer V?

The highest pay for Tool Design Engineer V is $157,749.

3. What is the lowest pay for Tool Design Engineer V?

The lowest pay for Tool Design Engineer V is $136,505.

4. What are the responsibilities of Tool Design Engineer V?

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. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Tool Design Engineer V?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Tool Design Engineer V roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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