Tire Builders
Also called: Automobile Tire Builder (Auto Tire Builder), Automobile Tire Recapper (Auto Tire Recapper), Bead Builder, Belt Builder, Belt Machine Operator, Buffer, Cord Tire Builder, Injection Mold Technician
Operate machines to build tires.
What tire builders do
Typical tasks
- Build semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping or retreading processes.
- Trim excess rubber and imperfections during retreading processes.
- Fill cuts and holes in tires, using hot rubber.
- Place tires into molds for new tread.
- Fit inner tubes and final layers of rubber onto tires.
- Buff tires according to specifications for width and undertread depth.
- Brush or spray solvents onto plies to ensure adhesion, and repeat process as specified, alternating direction of each ply to strengthen tires.
- Start rollers that bond tread and plies as drums revolve.
- Align treads with guides, start drums to wind treads onto plies, and slice ends.
- Inspect worn tires for faults, cracks, cuts, and nail holes, and to determine if tires are suitable for retreading.
- Measure tires to determine mold size requirements.
- Roll hand rollers over rebuilt casings, exerting pressure to ensure adhesion between camelbacks and casings.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Tire Builders salary
The median annual wage for tire builders is $57,390 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $40,150 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $74,680. The mean annual wage is $57,160.
The mean hourly wage of $27.00 is 3.7× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Tire Builders (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $57,390 → in 3 years $62,600 → in 5 years $66,400 → in 10 years $76,800 (10-year range $66,000–$89,100). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Tire Builders
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Tire Builders? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Tire Builders
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Tire Builders United States | タイヤ製造 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $57,390 | ¥4.58M ≈ $29,141 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $76,800 | ¥5.48M |
| Outlook score | 44 | 40 |
| AI replacement risk | 35% Low | 70% High |
| Workers | 21K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Tire Builders
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become tire builders
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as tire builders
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.