Tooling Technician

Career Guide

A Tooling Technician builds, sets up, maintains, and repairs the tools and fixtures used to make parts in a factory. The role focuses on keeping production equipment accurate, safe, and running with minimal downtime.

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Key Responsibilities

Build and assemble tooling such as fixtures, jigs, dies, and molds
Set up tooling on production equipment and verify correct operation
Inspect tooling for wear and damage
Repair, adjust, and refurbish tooling to restore accuracy
Use precision measuring tools to confirm dimensions and alignment
Troubleshoot production issues linked to tooling performance
Document tool changes, repairs, and inspection results
Coordinate with production teams to schedule tool maintenance
Order and manage tooling spare parts and consumables
Follow safety procedures and support a clean, organized work area

Top Skills for Success

Blueprint Reading

Precision Measurement

Tooling Maintenance

Mechanical Troubleshooting

CNC Machining Basics

Hand Tool Proficiency

Safety Compliance

Root Cause Analysis

Documentation

Communication

Career Progression

Can Lead To

CNC Machinist

Tool and Die Maker

Maintenance Technician

Manufacturing Technician

Quality Technician

Transition Opportunities

Tooling Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Process Engineer

Production Supervisor

Reliability Technician

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Geometric Dimensioning and TolerancingPreventive Maintenance PlanningStatistical Process ControlBasic CADCNC SetupFailure AnalysisInventory ManagementSupplier Communication

Development SuggestionsBuild strength in measurement and tolerancing, learn standard preventive maintenance routines, and practice structured troubleshooting. Add basic CAD and CNC setup skills to increase options across modern manufacturing environments.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level$40,000 to $55,000

Mid Level$55,000 to $75,000

Senior Level$75,000 to $95,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring remains strong in aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and general manufacturing, with added emphasis on quality, uptime, and automation support.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

BoeingLockheed MartinGE AerospaceHoneywellSiemensCaterpillarTeslaToyotaFordMedtronicJabilFlex3MJohn Deere

Industry Sectors

AutomotiveAerospaceMedical DevicesElectronics ManufacturingIndustrial MachineryConsumer GoodsPlastics ManufacturingMetal Fabrication

Recommended Next Steps

Create a resume section that lists tooling types you have built or maintained

Take a short course in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Practice with precision measurement tools and record sample inspection results

Ask to shadow a senior toolmaker or tooling engineer for complex repairs

Pursue an industry credential such as NIMS if it is valued by local employers

Track downtime causes and propose one tooling improvement per month

Build a simple portfolio with photos and brief writeups of tooling projects