How To Become A Tool Builder: What It Is and Career Path

What is a tool builder and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average tool builder salary is $44,285. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an business major. It usually takes 4-6 years of experience to become a tool builder. Tool builders with a Certified Machine Tool Sales Engineer (CMTSE) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 3,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreTool BuilderUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,285

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.4

Growth Rate 1%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 2.73%

Black or African American 2.51%

Hispanic or Latino 6.73%

Unknown 2.85%

White 84.41%

Gender

female 3.15%

male 96.85%

Age - 57

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 57

Stress Level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.6

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a tool builder

Explore tool builder education requirements

Most common tool builder degrees

High School Diploma

33.3 %

Bachelor's

25.6 %

Associate

22.2 %

Start to develop specific tool builder skills

Skills	Percentages
Jigs	16.00%
Hand Tools	12.50%
Calipers	11.20%
Grinders	11.00%
Aerospace	4.98%

Complete relevant tool builder training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tool builders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tool builder based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tool builder resumes.

Research tool builder duties and responsibilities

Contract machinist Fanuc lathes machining large turbines for use in power generation for Mitsubishi-Hitachi in Savannah Ga.
Fabricate composite and aluminum full validating fixtures for interior and exterior vehicle build.

Prepare your tool builder resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tool builder resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a tool builder resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Tool Builder Resume templates

Build a professional Tool Builder resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Tool Builder resume.

Apply for tool builder jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a tool builder job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do tool builders rate their job?