Tool and Die Maker Salary in St. Louis, MO
Tool and Die Makers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $59,610 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,212 take-home, or $4,018 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tool and die maker salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,973
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,696
- Medicare (1.45%)$864
- Missouri income tax$1,864
- Take-home pay$48,212
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Tool and Die Maker pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,590 | $20.96 | $36,093 | $3,008 |
| 25th percentile | $47,300 | $22.74 | $38,900 | $3,242 |
| Median (50th) | $59,610 | $28.66 | $48,212 | $4,018 |
| 75th percentile | $81,330 | $39.10 | $63,160 | $5,263 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,550 | $45.46 | $71,839 | $5,987 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,610 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median tool and die maker's $48,212 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,703 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tool and Die Maker jobs are about as common in St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for tool and die makers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #22 of 24 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $116,850 | $91,034 | $81,914 |
| 2 | Wichita, KS | $83,890 | $63,965 | $71,915 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $85,740 | $66,056 | $71,378 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $75,250 | $59,252 | $63,661 |
| 5 | Waterbury, CT | $76,420 | $59,963 | $60,097 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $66,630 | $54,654 | $59,761 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $69,210 | $57,519 | $59,706 |
| 8 | Hartford, CT | $78,060 | $61,027 | $59,396 |
| 22 | St. Louis, MO | $59,610 | $48,212 | $50,703 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 24 metros →
Tool and Die Maker salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $85,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tool and die maker make in St. Louis, MO?
The median tool and die maker salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $59,610 a year, or about $28.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,300 and $81,330.
What is a tool and die maker’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $59,610 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $48,212 a year ($4,018 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,864 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a tool and die maker?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $64,050. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,703 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #22 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tool and die maker afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median tool and die maker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $75,210
- Machinist — $62,210
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $62,090
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $57,850
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $56,320
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $54,610
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $53,500
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $53,360
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $52,630
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $52,310
- Food Batchmaker — $52,000
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $51,790