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  6. Tool and Die Makers

Exploring Trades and Occupations

Tool and Die Makers

On this page

  • Job description
  • Advancement and mobility
  • Hourly wage
  • Job prospects for 2024-2028
  • Sectors of activity
  • Training and requirements
  • Main skills and characteristics
  • Personality profiles (RIASEC)
  • Additional information

Job description

These individuals make, repair, or modify special tools to precise dimensions. They use a variety of metals, alloys, and plastics. They work for:

  • Automobile and aircraft manufacturers
  • Manufacturers of metals, electrical machinery, and plastics
  • Moulding, tooling, and manufacturing shops

Environment

  • Controlled ambient temperature
  • Equipment, machinery, tools
  • Noise
  • Falling objects

Main tasks

Tool and Die Makers

  • Read and interpret drawings and technical specifications of tools, dies, prototypes, and models.
  • Prepare templates and sketches.
  • Choose methods of execution.
  • Calculate dimensions.
  • Measure metal blocks or castings and make the necessary tracings for their machining.
  • Set up, operate, and maintain machines.
  • Adjust, assemble, or disassemble parts.
  • Ensure that the machined parts meet the requirements.
  • Ensure that finished tools, dies, jigs, and fixtures function properly.
  • Program numerically controlled machine tools, as required.

Metal Patternmakers

  • Machine shape, fit, and mount parts (e.g. moulds) to produce models that fit the specified shape.
  • Prepare, shape, and assemble metal, wood, and plastic templates with reference to plans or models.
  • Program numerically controlled machine tools as required.

Metal Mouldmakers

  • Shape and assemble metal moulds and cores to make plastic injection moulds.
  • Program, as required, numerically controlled machine tools.

Advancement and mobility

  • Qualified Tool and Die Makers receive a Red Seal endorsement upon successful completion of the Interprovincial Examination.
  • Experience leads to supervisory positions.

Hourly wage

Not available.

Job prospects for 2024-2028

Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.

Job prospects for 2024-2028

Job prospects

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Very good

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Non available

Total jobs for 2023

All of Québec

1,500

All of Québec

na

Gender distribution

All of Québec

Not available.
15.4% Female
84.6% Male

Not available.
  • 15.4% Female
  • 84.6% Male

Job types

All of Québec

Not available.
Full time
Part time

Not available.
  • Full time
  • Part time

Yearly wage on 2020

All of Québec

$58,400

All of Québec

Other characteristics

All of Québec

  • Non traditional for women
  • None

All of Québec

  • Non traditional for women
  • None

Sectors of activity

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Plastics and Rubber Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 326
    13% of jobs
  2. Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 332
    13% of jobs
  3. Machinery Manufacturing
    NAICS 333
    9% of jobs
  4. Aerospace Products and Parts
    NAICS 3364
    8% of jobs
  5. Other Transportation Equipment
    NAICS 336 [excluding 3364]
    8% of jobs
  6. Others
    49% of jobs

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Plastics and Rubber Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 326
    13% of jobs
  2. Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 332
    13% of jobs
  3. Machinery Manufacturing
    NAICS 333
    9% of jobs
  4. Aerospace Products and Parts
    NAICS 3364
    8% of jobs
  5. Other Transportation Equipment
    NAICS 336 [excluding 3364]
    8% of jobs
  6. Others
    49% of jobs

Training and requirements

Formation

Most training programs are offered in French only.

Secondary

AVS in diemaking
Code : 5541
AVS in fabrication de moules
Code : 5285
More on graduates’ employment situation
AVS in matriçage
Code : 5041
More on graduates’ employment situation
AVS in numerical Control Machine Tool Operation
Code : 5724
More on graduates’ employment situation
AVS in outillage
Code : 5042

Placement rate: 100%

More on graduates’ employment situation
AVS in toolmaking
Code : 5542
AVS in usinage sur machines-outils à commande numérique
Code : 5224

Placement rate: 88.1%

9.8% of graduates pursue further studies

More on graduates’ employment situation

Sometimes required

Tool and Die Makers

  • A four- or five-year Tool and Die Maker apprenticeship program may be required.
  • A Certificate of Qualification may be required.

Metal Patternmakers and Metal Mouldmakers

  • Apprenticeship program in the field usually required.

WAP

This occupation is targeted by Workplace Apprenticeship Programs

  • Computer controlled machinist
  • Machinist-mouldmaker
  • Patternmaker
  • Tool and die maker

Main skills and characteristics

Skills

  • Data collection
  • Information processing
  • Operations and control
  • Quality control analysis
  • Critical thought
  • Monitoring operations
  • Active listening
  • Judgment and decision-making
  • Equipment selection
More Less skills

Abilities

  • Near vision
  • Visualization
  • Awareness of issues
  • Verbal skills
  • Classification
  • Written comprehension
  • Oral comprehension
  • Digital dexterity
  • Information organization
  • Control accuracy
  • Manual dexterity
  • Deductive reasoning
  • Hand-arm stability
  • Selective attention
  • Inductive reasoning
  • Speech recognition
More Less abilities

Knowledge and attributes

  • Capacity to work under pressure
  • Critical thinking
  • Autonomy
  • Capacity to adapt
  • Capacity to delegate
  • Rigour
  • Respect standards and regulations
  • Desire to upgrade one’s competencies
  • Sense of observation
  • Knowledge of mechanics

Interests

  • Work with numbers
  • Make, build, install
  • Conduct tests and trials, control processes

Personality profiles (RIASEC)

Realistic
People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
Investigative
People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
Social
People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Additional information

Official name of the NOC 72101

Tool and die makers

Job titles

  • Toolmakers
  • Diemakers
  • Metal patternmaker
  • Metal mouldmaker
  • Tool and die maker
  • Tool fitter
  • Progressive die fitter
  • Die fitter
  • Bench die fitter
  • Bench stamping die maker
  • Die reamer
  • Apprentice tool and die maker
  • Metal patternmaker apprentice
  • Mould maker apprentice
  • Journeyman/woman tool and die maker
  • Die cutter
  • Die cutter - metalworking
  • Bench die cutter
  • Jewellery die cutter
  • Steel-rule die maker
  • Jig-bore tool maker
  • Carbide tool maker
  • Precision tool maker
  • Diamond tool maker
  • Injection moulding tool and die maker
  • Jig maker - metal products manufacturing
  • Bench jig maker
  • Gauge maker - tool and die
  • Die maker
  • Die maker - jewellery
  • Forging die maker
  • Wire-drawing die maker
  • Diecast diemaker
  • Model maker - tool and die
  • Motor vehicle jig builder
  • Injection mouldmaker
  • Diamond saw maker
  • Metal mould maker
  • Die finisher
  • Stamping die finisher
  • Forging die finisher
  • Metal mould finisher
  • Die sinker
  • Die sinker - metalworking
  • Jewellery die sinker
  • Bench die sinker
  • Jig and form maker
  • Aircraft jig and tool maker
  • Jig maker - die casting and plastic moulding
  • Template maker - tool and die
  • Jig maker
  • Aircraft jig and template maker
  • Extrusion die template maker
  • Mouldmaker - aircraft
  • Mould maker - plastics processing
  • Die mouldmaker
  • Bench tool maker
  • Tool and die preparer
  • Tool maintainer
  • Tool repairer
  • Tool and die repairer
  • Die repairer
  • Tire mould repairer
More Less job titles

Skill type

Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

Related occupations

  • Machining tool operators
  • Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors

See also

  • Glossary (PDF 229 Kb)
  • Québec emploi

See also

Non traditional

Hats Off to You!

Last update: January 29, 2026

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