Tool and Die Makers Salary
In Wisconsin, tool and die makers earn $68,120 at the median, or about $32.75 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $72,215 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $68K get you in Wisconsin?
About tool and die makers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Wisconsin
Tool and die makers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $68K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,202/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 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level tool and die makers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Tool and Die Makers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan | $75K | +11% | 220 |
| Appleton | $73K | +7% | 80 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $70K | +2% | 80 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $68K | +0% | 830 |
| Madison | $66K | -3% | 150 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $65K | -4% | 50 |
| Green Bay | $64K | -6% | 30 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $64K | -6% | 70 |
| Wausau | $64K | -7% | 60 |
| Eau Claire | $63K | -7% | 60 |
| Kenosha | $63K | -8% | 30 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $62K | -9% | 40 |
| Fond du Lac | $61K | -10% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
Track tool and die makers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a tool and die maker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 26.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for tool and die makers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tool and die makers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,816/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $68K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for tool and die makers?
Wisconsin pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tool and die makers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $68,120 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,940, and experienced tool and die makers can clear $81,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,479/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $72,215 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.