Careers in manufacturing and skilled trades
One hundred and thirty-three careers across machining, fabrication, electrical and mechanical trades, plant operations, quality control, and the hands-on work that produces and maintains physical goods. Each card below carries the typical preparation path, the salary range from entry to senior level, and a short read on what the work actually involves day to day.
133 careers in Manufacturing & Skilled Trades
Apprentice Seamstress
High School Diploma · $41,640
Learn the craft of sewing, altering, repairing, and creating garments and textile products under professional guidance,…
Automotive Body and Related Repairer
High School Diploma · $54,890
Automotive body repairers restore collision-damaged vehicles in body shops, straightening frames, replacing panels, and…
Automotive Technician
Certificate or Vocational Training · $50,620
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles, ensuring they run safely and efficiently.
Auxiliary Operator
High School Diploma · $102,040
Assists primary operators in monitoring, controlling, and maintaining equipment and systems in industrial or power…
Avionics Technician
Certificate or Vocational Training · $82,280
Avionics technicians install, test, and repair radar, navigation, and flight control systems on aircraft. They work…
Bicycle Repairer
No Formal Education Needed · $42,780
Bicycle repairers diagnose and fix mechanical faults, working in repair shops, sporting goods stores, or mobile vans.…
Biofuels Processing Technician
High School Diploma · $62,470
Biofuels processing technicians load feedstock, mix additives, and monitor fermentation vessels inside production…
Biofuels Production Manager
Bachelor's Degree · $126,060
A biofuels production manager oversees a plant that converts organic feedstock into ethanol or biodiesel, tracking…
Biomass Plant Technician
High School Diploma · $102,040
Biomass plant technicians monitor boiler pressures, adjust combustion settings, and repair faults in facilities that…
Chemical Mixing Operator
High School Diploma · $58,040
Operates and monitors chemical mixing equipment to blend raw materials according to specifications. Ensures product…
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tender
High School Diploma · $43,530
Cleaning and pickling equipment operators run industrial machines that scrub glass, steel, rubber, and other…
Commissioning Technician
Associate's Degree · $78,350
Commissioning technicians are responsible for the installation, testing, troubleshooting, and operational handover of…
Composite Technician
High School Diploma · $46,880
Composite technicians fabricate, repair, and maintain components made from composite materials like carbon fiber,…
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
High School Diploma · $74,340
Control and valve installers and repairers calibrate and fix devices that regulate pressure, flow, and temperature at…
Control Room Operator
High School Diploma · $62,470
Monitors and controls complex systems and equipment from a central control room, often in industries like power…
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
No Formal Education Needed · $38,020
Hand cutters and trimmers shape materials like carpet, glass, rubber, and stone that machines cannot handle cleanly,…
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
High School Diploma · $46,330
Cutting, punching, and press machine operators run industrial equipment that shapes metal and plastic stock into parts…
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
High School Diploma · $49,080
Drilling and boring machine tool setters run drill presses and CNC mills to cut precise openings and recesses in metal…
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairer
Certificate or Vocational Training · $56,210
Electric motor repairers disassemble faulty motors and power tools, test windings, and replace worn parts for…
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assembler
High School Diploma · $45,850
Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers build circuit boards, battery packs, and wiring looms on a factory floor…
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technician
Associate's Degree · $78,190
Assist electrical engineers in designing, developing, testing, and manufacturing electrical and electronic equipment.…
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
Certificate or Vocational Training · $84,890
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers work aboard ferries, trains, and Coast Guard cutters, fitting…
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Certificate or Vocational Training · $103,020
Powerhouse and substation repairers inspect, test, and fix electrical equipment that keeps the grid running for…
Electronics Repairer
Certificate or Vocational Training · $74,090
Repairs, maintains, and installs electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.…
Electroplating Technician
High School Diploma · $43,960
Electroplating Technicians coat objects in thin layers of metal using the process of electroplating. They direct,…
Engineering Lab Technician
Associate's Degree · $74,510
Engineering Lab Technicians assist engineers and scientists in research and development, testing, and production…
Entry-level Manufacturing Associate
High School Diploma · $40,110
Operate and maintain production machinery, assemble components, and inspect finished products to ensure quality…
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
High School Diploma · $47,720
Extruding and drawing machine operators feed raw metal or plastic into industrial machines and adjust speed, heat, and…
Foundry Technician
High School Diploma · $44,350
Operates and maintains foundry equipment to cast metal products. This includes preparing molds, melting and pouring…
Furniture Finisher
High School Diploma · $44,540
Furniture finishers sand, stain, strip, and recoat furniture for workshops, restoration shops, and private clients.…
Gem and Diamond Worker
High School Diploma · $52,540
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
High School Diploma · $42,660
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or…
HVAC Helper
High School Diploma · $39,630
Assists HVAC technicians with installation, maintenance, and repair of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning…
HVAC Service Technician
Certificate or Vocational Training · $61,010
Installs, maintains, and repairs heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. Works with various…
HVAC Technician
Certificate or Vocational Training · $61,010
Installs, maintains, and repairs heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, ensuring optimal performance and…
Hydroelectric Plant Technician
Associate's Degree · $102,040
Hydroelectric plant technicians monitor turbine speed, reservoir levels, and grid load from a control room, then walk…
Hydroelectric Production Manager
Certificate or Vocational Training · $126,060
A hydroelectric production manager runs a facility where water drives turbines to generate electricity, overseeing…
Industrial Maintenance Technician
Certificate or Vocational Training · $64,520
Installs, maintains, and repairs machinery, equipment, physical structures, and pipe and electrical systems in…
Industrial Production Manager
Bachelor's Degree · $126,060
Industrial production managers run manufacturing operations, deciding which lines run, who covers absent staff, and…
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
High School Diploma · $63,870
Layout workers mark reference lines and dimensions on metal and plastic stock to guide machinists and welders through…
Machine Operator Assistant
High School Diploma · $39,070
Assists machine operators in setting up, operating, and maintaining machinery. Responsibilities include loading…
Machinist
High School Diploma · $58,750
Machinists cut metal to precise dimensions on lathes, mills, and CNC machines, following engineering drawings and…
Maintenance Engineer
Bachelor's Degree · $104,110
Ensure the optimal functioning, reliability, and safety of machinery, equipment, and industrial systems by implementing…
Maintenance Technician Assistant
High School Diploma · $39,630
Assists maintenance technicians with repairs, installations, and preventative maintenance tasks on machinery,…
Maintenance Technician (Industrial)
Certificate or Vocational Training · $64,520
Industrial maintenance technicians inspect, maintain, and repair industrial machinery and equipment. They troubleshoot…
Manufacturing Production Worker
High School Diploma · $40,110
Operates and maintains machinery, assembles products, and monitors production processes in a manufacturing environment…
Manufacturing Supervisor
Associate's Degree · $74,450
Oversees daily production operations in a manufacturing facility, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety standards…
Manufacturing Technician
Certificate or Vocational Training · $66,120
Operates and maintains production machinery, ensuring quality control and efficient manufacturing processes.…
Manufacturing Technician (Biopharma)
Associate's Degree · $40,110
Operates and maintains equipment used in the production of biopharmaceutical products, ensuring adherence to strict…
Material Handler
High School Diploma · $40,240
Organizes and moves materials within a warehouse or production facility, ensuring efficient flow of goods to support…