How much does a Tooling Engineer earn in 2026?

The average Tooling Engineer salary ranges from 60,000 to 120,000 per year in the United States.

Is Tooling Engineer a good career in 2026?

Yes, Tooling Engineer has medium demand in 2026. The field offers 10% remote opportunities.

🎯Overview 🚀Career Path 🎓Learning Path 📊Levels 🎯Skills 💰Earnings

Careers/Tooling Engineer

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Tooling Engineer

Q: What skills do I need to become a Tooling Engineer?

Key skills include: Budget Management, Unknown, Cloud Cost Optimization, FDA Medical Device, Figma (Design Tools), MDR Medical Device Regulation.

Medium demand

Design and optimize the tools, dies, molds, and fixtures that make mass production possible

$XX,000 – $XXX,000XX% Remote4 levels

Junior Tooling Engineer → Tooling Engineer → Senior Tooling Engineer → Tooling Manager

Budget Management Unknown Cloud Cost Optimization FDA Medical Device Figma (Design Tools)MDR Medical Device Regulation Negotiation Problem-Solving Rapid Prototyping Sprint Robotics Kinematics Forward Snowflake Cortex AI Vendor Management

$XXXk

Max salary (US)

XX%

Remote

4

Career levels

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About the profession

Tooling Engineers design, develop, and maintain the tools, dies, jigs, and fixtures used in manufacturing processes. They bridge the gap between product design and production, ensuring parts can be manufactured efficiently and to specification. In 2026, tooling engineers leverage 3D printing for rapid prototyping, simulation software for virtual testing, and AI-assisted design optimization.

Why choose it

✓Solve complex design-to-manufacturing challenges

✓See your designs produce millions of parts

✓Critical role in every mass production environment

✓Strong engineering salary

✓Work with cutting-edge manufacturing technology

How to Get Started

1

Take a personality test to see if Tooling Engineer fits your profile

Career Match Test →

2

Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior

Jump to Career Path →

3

Start learning — check the Learning Path for free courses

Jump to Learning Path →

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Career Path

Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level

Career Ladder

Junior Tooling Engineer → Tooling Engineer → Senior Tooling Engineer → Tooling Manager

Where are you on this career path?

Click a level below to set your current position

Salary Growth

L1

$52K – $68K

L2

$68K – $88K

L3

$88K – $110K

L4

$110K – $150K

Entry → Top level growth3x

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1

18-30 months

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2

24-36 months

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3

36-48 months

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4

Levels

150K

Top Salary

8++

Years

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Learning Path

Skills you need to develop and courses to get there

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Set your current level first

Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.

Go to Career Path

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Career levels

Timeline: 0-2 | Entry Level Base: $52,000 - $68,000/year Design simple fixtures and jigs using CAD software Support senior engineers on tool design projects Create engineering…

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Skills used in this career

Click any skill to see how to learn it and what salary boost it gives

Budget Management→Unknown→Cloud Cost Optimization→FDA Medical Device→Figma (Design Tools)→MDR Medical Device Regulation→Negotiation→Problem-Solving→Rapid Prototyping Sprint→Robotics Kinematics Forward→Snowflake Cortex AI→Vendor Management→Vendor Negotiation Contract→

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Income Dynamics

Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years

Year 1-2: Junior $52,000 - $68,000 Year 2-5: Engineer $68,000 - $88,000 Year 5-8: Senior $88,000 - $110,000 Year 8+: Manager $110,000 - $150,000+

💰 Salary Range

US data

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🎯 Is Tooling Engineer right for you?

Take these tests to find out if this career matches your personality:

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