Design

Tool makers are one of the highest paid and most highly skilled production occupations.
Most tool makers need 4 or 5 years of classroom instruction and on-the-job training to become fully qualified.
Employment is projected to decline moderately, but job opportunities should be excellent, as many employers report difficulty finding qualified applicants.
Tool makers held about 84,300 jobs in 2008. Most worked in industries that manufacture metalworking machinery, transportation equipment, such as motor vehicle parts, fabricated metal products, and plastics products. Although they are found throughout the country, jobs are most plentiful in the Midwest and the Northeast, where many metalworking companies are located.