Career comparison
CNC Machinist vs. Tool and Die Maker
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Tool and die makers earn more at the median ($64,050 vs. $58,750), while CNC machinists usually get to work faster (6–24 months of training). CNC machinists set up and run computer-controlled machines that cut precision metal parts. Tool and die makers build the precision dies, molds and tools factories use to make parts.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| CNC Machinist | Tool and Die Maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,750 ($28.24/hr) | $64,050 ($30.79/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $39,200 – $80,010 | $44,680 – $92,680 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.0% (slower than average) | -9.2% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 26,100 | 4,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 6–24 months | 4 years (apprenticeship) |
| Key credential | NIMS credentials | NIMS credentials |
| Work setting | Machinists work in machine shops and factories. | Toolmakers work in tool rooms and machine shops in factories and job shops. |
What each job does
CNC Machinist
- Read blueprints, GD&T and setup sheets
- Set up CNC mills and lathes, including fixtures, tools and offsets
- Load programs and run machines
- Measure parts with precision instruments and adjust offsets
- Perform first-article and in-process inspections
Tool and Die Maker
- Read blueprints, CAD models and specifications
- Plan machining sequences for tools and dies
- Machine components on mills, lathes, grinders and EDMs
- Heat treat and finish tool steel
- Fit, assemble and test dies and molds
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, indoor work, working independently, and steady routines. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose CNC machinist if…
- I enjoy precise, careful work
- I like math and measurements
- I’m comfortable around machines
Choose tool and die maker if…
- I love precise, detailed work
- I like machines and metal
- I’m patient with complex problems
Still torn? Take the CNC Machinist fit quiz and the Tool and Die Maker fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, CNC machinist or tool and die maker?
Tool and Die Makers earn more at the median: $64,050 versus $58,750 for CNC machinists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
CNC Machinists typically train faster (6–24 months) than tool and die makers (4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects CNC machinists to grow +1.0% from 2025–35, compared with -9.2% for tool and die makers.