Tool and Die Makers Salary
In Arkansas, tool and die makers earn $56,840 at the median, or about $27.33 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $64,856 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Arkansas?
About tool and die makers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for tool and die makers in Arkansas runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level tool and die makers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Tool and Die Makers salary by metro in Arkansas
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $66K | +16% | 80 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tool and die maker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 26.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for tool and die makers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tool and die makers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,850/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tool and die maker a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $57K here vs. $64K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for tool and die makers?
Arkansas pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tool and die makers make in Arkansas?
The median is $56,840 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,830, and experienced tool and die makers can clear $76,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,805/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 26.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tool and die makers salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tool and die makers salary is worth about $64,856 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tool and die makers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.