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Job Description: An apprenticeship is a formal method of training in a skilled occupation or trade. For general information about apprenticeships, training, and partnerships with business, visit the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS) website. OATELS is the Federal program that administers the National Registered Apprenticeship System (NRAS). It is a consolidation of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training and the new responsibilities of the employer and labor liaison dedicated to building a workforce for the 21st century.
Apprentice tool and die makers are paid trainees who learn to make or repair metal tools, dies, molds, jigs, fixtures, and gauges. They are trained on-the-job by experienced tool and die makers who work directly with tooling and manufacturing engineers. The training generally lasts between four and five years.
Duties: Working under the guidance and supervision of experienced tool and die makers, apprentices may perform some or all of the following duties:
- Select the raw stock
- Fabricate tools that cut metal parts to shape and size
- Make dies that shear, pierce, and form sheet metal pieces, jigs, and fixtures
- Operate basic machine shop equipment such as metal lathes, milling machines, drills, shapers, grinders, and hand tools
- Assemble and test the finished tools
Working Conditions: Work is normally done indoors in well-lighted and air-conditioned shops. Tool and die makers generally work a standard 40-hour week. The job requires lifting and/or carrying objects weighing no more than 25 pounds. Workers come in contact with grease, oils, and solvents. Hazards may occur due to metal chips, abrasive dust, or sharp tools. Workers wear safety glasses to avoid injury.
Educational Requirements: Applicants for an apprenticeship as a tool and die maker must complete high school or the equivalent (G.E.D.) and pass an aptitude test to qualify for the program. An applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 25, and be a member of a labor union. Experience gained through vocational courses, military training, or work experience may be used to obtain advanced placement in the apprenticeship program. For related information and recommended courses to prepare for this occupation, Tennessee high school students may visit the Trade and Industrial Education Standards, Competency Profiles, and Resource Links online.
Outlook: The estimated number of tool and die makers in Tennessee is 3,100. It is projected there will be an increase of 7 percent in this occupation through the year 2012 with 90 job openings annually. For additional information on this occupation, visit the nationally recognized Occupational Outlook Handbook online.
| 10% | 25% | Median- 50% | 75% | 90% | |
| TN Annual | $30,000 | $35,680 | $41,720 | $48,010 | $54,580 |
| US Annual | $28,810 | $35,970 | $44,290 | $55,670 | $67,420 |
*Some salaries are listed at an hourly rate. Those that include a single dollar amount are considered hourly wage.
Wage and salary data provided by:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
- TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
- Bureau of Economic Analysis website
For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org
Last updated on: January 23, 2008