Tool and die makers
Career Overview
Tool and die makers:
- Make, repair and modify custom-made, prototype or special tools, dies, jigs, fixtures and gauges using various metals, alloys and plastics which require precise dimensions
- Work mainly in manufacturing industries such as automobile, aircraft, metal fabrication, electrical machinery and plastics
- Also work in tool and die, mould making and machine shops
This group also includes metal patternmakers and metal mould makers.
Job Titles
Duties
Tool and die makers:
- Read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications of tools, dies, prototypes or models
- Prepare templates and sketches, and determine work processes
- Compute dimensions and tolerances and set up machine tools
- Position, secure, measure and work metal stock or castings to lay out for machining
- Set up, operate and maintain a variety of conventional and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools to cut, turn, mill, plane, drill, bore, grind or otherwise shape work piece to prescribed dimensions and finish
- Verify machined parts for conformance to specifications using precision measuring instruments such as vernier callipers, micrometers, coordinate measuring machines (CMM) and electronic measuring devices
- Fit and assemble or disassemble parts using hand tools
- Test completed tools, dies, jigs or fixtures for proper operation
- May program CNC machine tools
Metal patternmakers:
- Machine, fit and assemble castings and other parts to make precision models of required shape such as metal patterns, core boxes and match plates
- Lay out, shape and assemble patterns of metal, wood, plastic and other materials from blueprints, models or templates
- May program CNC machine tools
Metal mould makers:
- Machine, fit and assemble parts to make metal moulds and cores for plastic injection moulding, or other production processes
- May program CNC machine tools
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
290% Employed Full Time
52%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in a controlled indoor setting that may be noisy.
- Work involves equipment, machinery or power/hand tools that may be a potential source of injury.
- Workers may be exposed to flying particles, such as metal particles, and falling objects in the work environment that pose the risk of bodily injury.
Career Pathways
Red Seal trade certification of tool and die makers allows for movement between provinces.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a four- or five-year tool and die making apprenticeship program, or
- A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in tool and die making is usually required to be eligible for tool and die trade certification.
- Tool and die making trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified tool and die makers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
- Mould makers usually require completion of a four-year apprenticeship or college program in mould making.
- Trade certification for mould makers is available, but voluntary, in Quebec and Ontario.
- Patternmakers usually require completion of an apprenticeship or college program in patternmaking.
- Patternmaking trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.
Tool and die makers who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Trades training resources
Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
290Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 3.4% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 230 | 78.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 15 | 5.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | 10.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
130Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 120 | 1.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | Not available | Not available |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 10 | -1.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 100 |
| Retail Trade | 10 |
| Construction | 10 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
Resources
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Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA)www.apma.ca
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Canadian Association of Moldmakers (CAMM)www.camm.ca
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Canadian Machine Tool Distributors Association (CMTDA)www.cmtda.com
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Canadian Manufacturing Coalition (CMC)manufacturingourfuture.ca
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Canadian Tooling and Machining Association (CTMA)ctma.com
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Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC)canadianchemistry.ca
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International Special Tooling & Machining Association (ISTMA)www.istma.org/istma-world
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SME Canada (Society of Manufacturing Engineers)www.sme.org/smecanada
