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Tire Builders: Career Overview
Operate machines to build tires.
What Tasks Do Tire Builders Take On?
The core tasks performed by tire builders include:
- Build semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping or retreading processes.
- Trim excess rubber and imperfections during retreading processes.
- Fill cuts and holes in tires, using hot rubber.
What Tire Builders Need to Know
Top tire builders draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Tire Builders Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Automobile Tire Builder (Auto Tire Builder)
- Automobile Tire Recapper (Auto Tire Recapper)
- Bead Builder
- Belt Builder
- Belt Machine Operator
- Buffer
- Cord Tire Builder
- Injection Mold Technician
How Many Tire Builders Are There?
There are about 883,333 tire builders working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +6.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Tire Builders Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $25,514 |
| Hourly median | $12.27 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 |
| 75th percentile | $30,460 |
| 90th percentile | $35,405 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $66,710 |
| Virginia | $66,530 |
| North Carolina | $62,360 |
| Arizona | $57,380 |
| Iowa | $55,110 |
| Ohio | $54,600 |
| Mississippi | $51,390 |
| Indiana | $48,740 |
| Oregon | $47,200 |
| Connecticut | $46,310 |
| Georgia | $45,460 |
| Kentucky | $45,150 |
| Florida | $44,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,810 |
| Tennessee | $43,110 |
| Maryland | $42,740 |
| Michigan | $39,500 |
| California | $39,400 |
| Missouri | $35,390 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for tire builders vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $66,710 | 14.1% | 8.11 |
| Southeast | $56,633 | 50.8% | 3.75 |
| Great Lakes | $50,703 | 13.9% | 1.57 |
| New England | $46,310 | 1.0% | 0.57 |
| Middle Atlantic | $43,601 | 3.1% | 0.36 |
| Far Western US | $40,960 | 3.4% | 0.19 |
| Plains States | $24,288 | 13.7% | 4.35 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $46,320 | 730 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | OH | $45,150 | 190 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $40,260 | 30 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | MI | $38,190 | 30 |
Which Industries Hire Tire Builders
The largest employers of tire builders are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19,800 | $57,040 |
| Retail Trade | 600 | $39,450 |
| Wholesale Trade | 170 | $40,170 |
Below are examples of industries where tire builders work:
Software Tire Builders Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for tire builders is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Standing
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
Getting Started in This Career
Typical tire builders positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (Supplemental)
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical (Supplemental)
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Rail Car Repairers (Supplemental)
- Tire Repairers and Changers (Primary-Short)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Supplemental)
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (Supplemental)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (Primary-Short)
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9197.00 (Tire Builders).
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