Tool & Die Technology

Types of Degrees Tool & Die Technology Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many tool and die technology/technician graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Basic Certificate	278
Associate’s Degree	231
Undergraduate Certificate	149

What Tool & Die Technology Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, tool and die tech majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Tool and Die Tech Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in tool and die tech should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Skills for Tool and Die Tech Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to tool and die tech:

• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Abilities for Tool and Die Tech Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a tool and die tech student include the following:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Tool & Die Technology?

This major attracts more men than women. About 96% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of tool and die tech majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	0
Black or African American	4
Hispanic or Latino	84
White	137
International Students	2
Other Races/Ethnicities	4

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Tool and Die Tech. About 0.9% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do Tool & Die Technology Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Tool and Die Tech majors often go into careers with median salaries of $53,650. This median refers to all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Tool & Die Technology

Some degrees associated with tool and die tech may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.

Find out what the typical degree level is for tool and die tech careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	11.0%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	68.5%
Some College Courses	1.3%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	16.6%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	2.6%

Online Tool & Die Technology Programs

In the 2018-2019 academic year, 55 schools offered some type of tool and die technology/technician program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	33	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	30	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	6	0
Associate’s Degree	25	0
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	33	0
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Tool & Die Technology Worth It?

The median salary for a tool and die tech grad is $53,650 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 34% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $275,000 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Tool & Die Technology

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to tool and die tech.

Major	Number of Grads
Welding Technology/Welder	45,129
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist	4,244
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant	2,998
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist	1,938
Metal Fabricator	585
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking	358
Other Precision Metal Working	272
Ironworking/Ironworker	171

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.