Also called: Tool Design Engineer, Fixture Engineer
Designs the custom molds, dies, jigs and fixtures that let a factory make the same part perfectly thousands of times.
A new phone case is launching and you have three weeks to design the steel mold that will shape it. You model it in CAD, run a flow simulation to see how the hot plastic fills every corner, and meet the toolmakers to argue about cooling channels. Then you're at the press when the first parts pop out.
BLS figures for mechanical engineers, the usual category.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in mechanical or manufacturing engineering; some toolmakers move up with experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Plastics Engineering.
Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years). Mechanical engineers overall.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI-assisted CAD and mold-flow simulation speed design; costly physical trade-offs and press-side debugging stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Engineering CTE (PLTW), Machining or shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2141.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.