Manufacturing has changed significantly over the past few decades. Mechanization, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) have changed how goods are processed to yield products derived from natural raw materials or manufactured components. The transformation of raw and semi-finished products may be physically, chemically, or mechanically altered to produce an original item. Subsectors of U.S. manufacturing include wood, petroleum, printing, machinery, and many more.
Over the past few decades, manufacturers have focused on improving their production processes. Efficient production methods have been put into place to drive quality that meets customers’ high standards while also finding ways to decrease costs. Teamwork is vital to achieving lower costs and higher quality, which makes manufacturing an exciting environment to work in.
State-of-the-art technology complements human labor in manufacturing across various fields. Managers use a variety of strategies to support improvements in mass production, but they need the right people to make up teams to support company goals. Groups of people are highly effective at making improvements. Managers appreciate that it is the workforce that makes improvements no matter how good the technology is, which is why ambitious people with special skills are valued in this environment.
If this sounds like a career path that interests you, keep reading to learn more about some of the full-time and part-time job titles present in the manufacturing sector.
Types of Manufacturing Jobs
It is worthwhile to separate the more familiar manufacturing job postings from those associated with advanced technologies. Read through the following job titles to see if any appeal to you.
Also, conduct further research to determine whether apprenticeship training, a bachelor's degree, or additional higher level education qualifications will match your career aspirations.
Manufacturing Specialist and General Manufacturing Associate Positions
Beginning a new full-time career is an exciting prospect for job seekers. As with any new venture, research and planning are important. You may need additional qualifications to follow some of the career paths below, or you may find that an apprenticeship is required. Explore the list to see if any of these positions appeal to you before following up to find out what qualifications and years of experience are required, if any.
- Boilermakers
- Bookbinders
- Brazers
- CNC machinists
- Configuration and product marketing analysts
- Controllers
- Customer service representatives
- Cutters
- Designers
- Electricians
- Electronic assemblers
- Expediters
- Fabricators
- Fiberglass laminators or fabricators
- Floor assemblers
- Food technologists
- General workers
- Inspectors
- Machinists
- Master schedulers
- Material handlers
- Materials planners
- Mechanical designers
- Metal workers
- Millwrights
- Painting and coating workers
- Photographic processors
- Precision assemblers
- Plastic machine workers
- Production foremen
- Production associates, such as painters, planners, schedulers, or workers
- Power plant dispatchers
- Power plant distributors
- Processing workers
- Production control clerks
- Quality control analysts
- Quality inspectors
- Semiconductor processors
- Structural metal fabricators
- Tool and die makers
- Tool crib attendants
- Tool, die, and gauge makers
- Warehouse workers
- Welders
Manufacturing Operator Positions
- Boiler operators
- Chemical plant operators
- CNC operators
- Coating operators
- Computer control programmers or operators
- Dairy processing equipment operators
- General machine operators
- Machine tool cutting operators
- Paint and spray machine operators
- Plant/power plant operators
- Printing machine operators
- Process operators
- Specialized machine operators
- Waste treatment plant operators
Office Manufacturing Positions
The following list offers some typical administrative jobs found in manufacturing. Full-time and part-time support staff will work in familiar departments, such as finance, human resources, IT, marketing, procurement, project management, and maintenance.
Core departments will often encompass engineering and technical positions but these tend to overlap with general, technical, office, operator, and engineering positions depending on levels of integration in the manufacturing facility. Here is a small sample of some of the office positions in manufacturing.
- Buyers
- Financial assistants
- General administrative clerks
- General secretaries
- General operations clerks
- Health and safety officers
- HR administrative officers
- IT administrators
- Marketing assistants
- Plant accountants
- Procurement administrators
- Product assistants
- Production assistants
- Product development assistants
- Purchasing agents or buyers
- Receptionists
- Risk and compliance officers
- Senior buyers
Manufacturing Technician and Engineer Manufacturing Jobs
Various qualifications will be needed to land a job for one of these positions. As technology becomes progressively more complex, higher-level qualifications are required to manage both technology and product development.
Qualified engineers specialize in a diverse array of fields to bring expert knowledge into the manufacturing environment. Exceptional skill and experience are involved in the manufacturing of new products for human use, which means that outstanding talent is needed to fill these roles.
Whether in the design, development, or production role, engineers and technicians contribute integral value in their fields of know-how.
Manufacturing Technician Positions
- Electromechanical technicians
- Electronics technicians
- Equipment technicians
- Field service technicians
- Industrial engineering technicians
- Manufacturing engineer technicians
- Mechanical technicians
- Production technicians
- Safety technicians
- Service technicians
- Wafer processing technicians
Manufacturing Engineer Positions
- Chemical engineers
- Control engineers
- Design engineers
- Electromechanical engineers
- Industrial or mechanical engineers
- Manufacturing or mechanical engineers
- Manufacturing process engineers
- Mechanical design fabrication engineers
- Packaging or pattern engineers
- Process or product design engineers
- Quality assurance engineers
- Quality engineers
- Reliability engineers
- Supplier quality and test engineers
- Warehousing logistics engineers
- Work-study engineers
Leadership Jobs in Manufacturing
No matter how technically advanced manufacturing processes become, leadership, management, and supervision of teams remain familiar constants. While this is only a small selection of the executive and management positions available in manufacturing, many more may be offered depending on the industry or subsector.
Likewise, supervisory positions are a strong element in the manufacturing sector, as these supportive roles generally lead team members within certain divisions.
Supervisory Positions
- Assembly supervisors
- Civil engineering supervisors
- Floor assembly supervisors
- Maintenance supervisors
- Manufacturing team leaders
- Manufacturing supervisors
- Machine shop maintenance or production supervisors
- Materials management supervisors
- Production supervisors
- Powerhouse supervisors
- Processing equipment operations supervisors
- Shift supervisors
- Tool room supervisors
Management Positions
- Assistant plant managers
- Distribution managers
- Division managers
- Estimating managers
- Facilities managers
- General managers
- Manufacturing production managers
- Maintenance managers
- Materials managers
- Operations managers
- Plant HR managers
- Plant managers
- Product development engineering managers
- Product managers
- Production control/engineering managers
- Production managers
- Project managers
- Quality assurance managers
- Quality/safety managers
- Safety managers or coordinators
- Shipping and receiving managers
- Warehouse managers
- Work center managers
Chief Executives and Director Positions
- Director of operations
- Quality management
- Chief of manufacturing
- Quality control director
- Operations director
What Are Manufacturing Job Salaries?
Salary ranges in the manufacturing sector depend on the position and location. The higher the qualification and expertise needed, the higher the salary, typically. Chief executive positions in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing can achieve median wages of $240,890. General and operations managers in the same sector command median incomes of $175,170. These figures provide an idea of salary expectations at management levels in the manufacturing sector.
Median entry-level salaries for full-time mechanical engineers range from $61,538 to $136,550, which gives some indication of salary expectations in the manufacturing sector. Wages differ across countries, regions, and manufacturing sectors so these figures are only provided for context.
Average annual manufacturing salaries in the United States stood at around $72,735 in 2019. To get an idea of how much other workers are paid in this sector, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides a broad outline of wages. Production occupations earn median incomes ranging from $23,160 to $63,250 or more depending on the manufacturing sector.
Because manufacturing positions are often considered high risk, health and safety factors are a major priority.
What Are Manufacturing Job Health Requirements?
Physical stamina and mental clarity are part of the job description for most manufacturing jobs. Without a doubt, your health matters in the manufacturing sector. However, which part of this sector you work in will determine whether you need to have a physical exam conducted regularly. When employees work directly with potentially dangerous equipment, physical exams are usually required.
If the manufacturing subsector uses dangerous chemicals, regular health tests will be a matter of compliance with local or federal regulation, as will the wearing of protective clothing. Considering the low number of injuries recorded in the manufacturing industry, it is important to note how strict Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety regulations help to preserve health and safety in the workplace. Manufacturing health and safety positions are as vital to safeguarding the work environment as they are to supporting personal health when working in hazardous environments.
Preparing Yourself for a Manufacturing Job
A broad outline of available job types has been provided in the manufacturing environment. Should any of these positions appeal to you as a career, Joblist recommends that you prepare yourself to follow your vision. Access a wide range of guidelines to create a resume, learn what it takes to conduct an online interview, and demonstrate initiative to potential employers by making your experience stand out.
Joblist makes it easy for users to explore and find the job of a lifetime by providing personalized job alerts that matter. Get started with Joblist to find your next career in manufacturing.
