Tooling engineers in San Diego, CA, enjoy the highest pay. A tooling engineer in San Diego can expect to earn an average salary of $165,554 annually. This makes the city a prime location for professionals seeking top compensation. Similarly, Austin, TX, and Portland, OR, offer competitive salaries for this profession. In Austin, the average salary reaches $139,479, while Portland provides $102,672 annually. These cities provide strong opportunities for those looking to maximize their earnings in the tooling engineering field.