Tool and Die Makers pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,190 or more. The middle half of tool and die makers in Modesto earn between $44,500 and $72,660.
- $42K10th
- $44K25th
- $52KMedian
- $73K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,000 | $4,833 | $27.88 |
| Median | $52,300 | $4,358 | $25.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,500 | $3,708 | $21.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,660 | $6,055 | $34.93 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tool and Die Makers pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Tool and die makers in Modesto earn 23% less than the California average ($75,120) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $64,050.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $58,000 | $52,300 | $41,740 | $78,190 | 40 |
| California | $75,120 | $77,030 | $45,710 | $104,260 | 1,790 |
| United States | $66,860 | $64,050 | $44,680 | $92,680 | 56,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tool and Die Makers salary after taxes in Modesto
On the average salary of $58,000, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $47,110 a year, or $3,926 a month and $1,812 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Modesto a good place for tool and die makers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $58,000 buys what about $55,711 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Tool and Die Makers salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 7th of 7 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($90,660).
- San Francisco$90,660
- San Diego$80,280
- Stockton$76,530
- Los Angeles$75,550
- Oxnard$69,280
- Riverside$67,380
- Modesto$58,000
Highest-paying cities for tool and die makers
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,510).
- Seattle, WA$107,510
- San Francisco, CA$90,660
- Albany, NY$83,480
- San Diego, CA$80,280
- Wichita, KS$80,080
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Tool and Die Makers salary in Modesto: questions
How much do tool and die makers make an hour in Modesto?
$27.88 an hour on average, and $25.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tool and die makers salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tool and die makers take-home pay in Modesto?
About $47,110 a year ($3,926 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,000. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do tool and die makers earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,860).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4111; area Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.