Prevailing Wage for Tool and Die Makers
Prevailing wage for Tool and Die Makers (SOC 51-4111) is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your title is Die Machinist, Die Repair Technician, or Tool and Fixture Specialist, the floor your employer must meet depends on your experience level and the worksite city. DOL defines four levels, and the gap between the lowest and highest cities is substantial.
See all jobs for Tool and Die MakersLook up your work address
Entry-level candidates with limited hands-on experience, typically following established procedures and working under close supervision. Most filings at this level involve recent graduates or workers transitioning into precision toolmaking who have not yet operated independently on complex die or fixture work.
Qualified Tool and Die Makers with demonstrated experience setting up machine tools and fitting die components with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, covering journeypersons who handle standard toolroom assignments independently.
Experienced practitioners who handle complex die repair, close-tolerance jig fabrication, or multi-axis machining with minimal oversight. Workers at this level typically mentor junior staff and are expected to troubleshoot difficult specifications without supervisor direction.
Fully competent senior Tool and Die Makers or lead toolroom specialists who design solutions, set shop standards, and take full ownership of critical tooling programs. Employers filing at Level 4 typically cite lead, senior, or master designations in the job title.
Prevailing Wage for Tool and Die Makers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for Tool and Die Makers
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Tool and Die Makers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Tool and Die Makers
Verify your title maps to SOC 51-4111
Titles like Die Repair Technician or Jig and Fixture Repairer are O*NET aliases for SOC 51-4111. If an employer files your LCA under a general machinist code instead, your offer may be benchmarked against a different, often lower, prevailing wage floor.
Expect Level 2 filings in most toolrooms
Most sponsored Tool and Die Makers are filed at Level 2 because journeyperson experience is the baseline expectation for the role. If your offer letter describes independent die repair or fixture work, a Level 1 filing likely understates your scope and the wage owed.
Watch the gap between coastal and interior toolroom markets
San Jose and Seattle prevailing wages for this occupation run more than double the San Juan floor. If your employer's parent company sets a national pay band, confirm the LCA lists your actual worksite city, not a lower-cost administrative address.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with toolroom history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Tool and Die Makers, so you can focus on companies with an established toolroom workforce rather than those filing H-1B petitions for the first time in a production occupation.
Jobs for Tool and Die Makers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Tool and Die MakersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4111.00 alongside Tool and Die Makers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Die Machinist Prevailing Wage
Die Machinist Prevailing Wage
Die Machinist positions fall under SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Die Repair Laborer Prevailing Wage
Die Repair Laborer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Die Repair Laborer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Die Repair Technician (Die Repair Tech) Prevailing Wage
Die Repair Technician (Die Repair Tech) Prevailing Wage
Die Repair Technician (Die Repair Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Jig and Fixture Repairer Prevailing Wage
Jig and Fixture Repairer Prevailing Wage
Jig and Fixture Repairer positions fall under SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Tool and Die Machinist Prevailing Wage
Tool and Die Machinist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Tool and Die Machinist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tool and Fixture Specialist Prevailing Wage
Tool and Fixture Specialist Prevailing Wage
Tool and Fixture Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Tool Maker Prevailing Wage
Tool Maker Prevailing Wage
Tool Maker positions fall under SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Tool Repairer Prevailing Wage
Tool Repairer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Tool Repairer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Trim Die Maker Prevailing Wage
Trim Die Maker Prevailing Wage
Trim Die Maker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4111.00 (Tool and Die Makers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Tool and Die Makers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Tool and Die Makers under SOC 51-4111, OFLC maps regional survey results to four experience levels. Employers sponsoring a worker must certify on the LCA that they will pay at least the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to me?
Level 1 is entry, Level 2 is qualified journeyperson, Level 3 is experienced, and Level 4 is fully competent senior or lead. DOL assigns levels based on experience range, supervision required, and complexity of tasks. Review the job duties on the LCA against the DOL level definitions: if the role involves independent die fabrication or mentoring, it should be Level 2 or higher.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Tool and Die Maker role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a national rate. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so a San Jose employer cannot apply a rural Midwest wage to a position performed in Silicon Valley. Dense manufacturing markets with strong union presence typically push regional floors higher than lighter-industry areas.
What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage?
USCIS will deny the H-1B or green card petition if the LCA shows a wage below the certified prevailing wage, and OFLC can decertify the LCA itself during audit. The employer bears the obligation to pay at least the prevailing wage for the duration of the sponsored status. An offer below the floor is not correctable by a salary negotiation after filing.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Tool and Die Makers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you query by SOC code 51-4111 and metropolitan area to retrieve the current Level 1 through Level 4 wage floors. Cross-reference with the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for independent confirmation. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have active sponsored roles for this occupation so you can compare offers against the applicable floor for each worksite.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Tool and Die Makers right now.
Search Jobs for Tool and Die Makers