Manufacturing

An AI Manufacturing Engineer is a manufacturer's own employee who builds and owns the AI tools its production teams run on: camera-based defect detection, scheduling and sequencing models, operator assistants that answer from approved work instructions, and the data pipelines that pull from the MES, historian and PLCs to feed them. The job sits between operations and IT, reporting into manufacturing engineering, operations technology or a digital manufacturing group, and it keeps each tool running after launch. BLS does not track the title. Software developers in manufacturing earned a median of $136,330 in May 2025, with the 10th to 90th percentile running from $86,660 to $215,320.

An assembler builds finished products and the subassemblies that go into them, joining parts with handtools, power tools and fixtures according to drawings and work instructions. Most work on manufacturing plant floors, often as team assemblers who rotate through every station in a cell, in industries from trucks and machinery to appliances and electronics. Federal data classifies the job as Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators. The May 2025 BLS median wage for that occupation was $44,650, with the 10th percentile at $33,280 and the 90th at $64,880. A high school diploma and several months of on-the-job training are the usual starting point.

Associate Product Managers support the development, launch, and lifecycle management of physical or industrial products — working with engineering, operations, sales, and customers to define requirements, track development milestones, and ensure products hit market on time and within spec. It's the entry-level rung on the product management ladder, combining project coordination, market research, and cross-functional communication.

Automation Engineers design, program, and maintain automated systems that control manufacturing equipment and processes — from individual machine cells to entire production lines. They work with PLCs, HMIs, robots, vision systems, and SCADA platforms to improve throughput, reduce defects, and eliminate manual labor from tasks that machines can perform reliably.

A buyer in manufacturing purchases the raw materials, components, tooling, maintenance supplies and outside services a plant needs to make its products, working between suppliers and the plant's planning, engineering, quality and accounts payable teams. The job covers quoting and sourcing, purchase orders, price and term negotiation, delivery follow-up and supplier performance. BLS groups buyers with purchasing agents in occupation 13-1020; in the manufacturing sector, that occupation earned a May 2025 median of $77,890, with $50,840 at the 10th percentile and $121,090 at the 90th. The job is a balance of three demands: material on time, at a cost the business can carry, from suppliers whose quality holds.

CAD Designers create the 2D and 3D drawings, models, and documentation that manufacturing teams use to build products. Working from engineering sketches, specifications, and change orders, they produce accurate technical drawings — part models, assemblies, BOMs, and GD&T-annotated drawings — that define exactly how a product is made, inspected, and assembled.

A Cleanroom Technician keeps a controlled manufacturing space inside its cleanliness limits while working in it: gowning, cleaning, monitoring particles and other contaminants, moving and loading product, and logging every excursion. The job sits on the production floor of semiconductor fabs, nanofabrication labs and other controlled environments, below the engineers who set process and contamination-control specifications. O*NET files the title under Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians, part of the BLS occupation Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians. In semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing, that occupation had a May 2025 median wage of $63,520, with the 10th to 90th percentile running from $47,300 to $98,490.

A CNC machinist sets up computer-controlled mills, lathes and machining centers, proves out programs, and cuts metal parts to the tolerances on an engineering drawing. The role sits on the shop floor of job shops, contract machine shops and the machining departments of manufacturers, between the programmer or engineer who defines the part and the inspector who signs it off. O*NET files the title under Machinists. BLS put the median annual wage for machinists at $58,750 in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $39,200 and the 90th at $80,010.

A CNC Operator runs computer numerically controlled mills, lathes and machining centers that a programmer has written and a setup machinist has proved out: loading stock, starting cycles, watching the cut, checking parts against the print and swapping worn tools. The job sits on the production floor of machine shops and other metal and plastics manufacturers, working beside setup machinists, programmers and quality inspectors. BLS tracks it as Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (SOC 51-9161), which paid a median of $50,690 in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $38,140 and the 90th at $73,890. Learning offsets, setups and inspection is the route toward setup and machinist work.

CNC Programmers write and optimize the programs that control CNC machine tools — mills, lathes, 5-axis machining centers, and EDM equipment — to produce precise metal parts. Working from engineering drawings and 3D models, they develop toolpaths in CAM software, post-process programs to specific machine controls, and prove them out on the shop floor, balancing speed, tool life, and part quality.

A demand planner is the supply chain analyst who decides how many units a manufacturer expects to sell, by product, customer and week, and defends that number in front of sales, finance and operations. The forecast they publish sets production schedules, raw material buys and inventory targets, so a bad call shows up as either idle stock or missed shipments. The role sits inside a supply chain or S&OP team, at a plant or at headquarters. BLS has no separate code for the job; the closest match, Logisticians, paid a national median of $82,320 in May 2025, with the 10th and 90th percentiles at $50,890 and $133,160.

A Digital Twin Engineer builds and maintains digital twins: software models of a production line, a machine or a product that stay synchronized with the physical item through sensor and machine data, so a plant can monitor it, run what-if simulations and predict failures. In manufacturing the job sits between plant engineering, controls and data teams. BLS does not report the title separately. Its nearest occupation, Industrial Engineers working in manufacturing, earned between $73,960 at the 10th percentile and $150,350 at the 90th percentile in May 2025, with a median of $101,160.

Distribution Managers run the warehouse and shipping operations that get finished products from a manufacturing facility to customers, distributors, and retail stores. They manage inbound receiving, inventory storage, order picking and packing, outbound shipping, and the workforce that executes those functions — balancing throughput, accuracy, and cost against customer service commitments.

Electrical Engineers in manufacturing design, specify, and maintain the electrical systems that power and control production equipment and facilities. From motor drives and control panels to power distribution and factory automation, they apply circuit theory, power systems knowledge, and safety standards to keep machines running safely, efficiently, and within regulatory compliance.

Electrical Engineering Technicians assist electrical engineers in designing, testing, and maintaining electrical equipment and systems. They build prototype circuits, conduct electrical tests, troubleshoot equipment failures, interpret schematics and wiring diagrams, and document test results — serving as the hands-on technical support that turns engineering designs into working hardware.

Electrical Maintenance Technicians keep production equipment running by diagnosing and repairing electrical faults, performing scheduled preventive maintenance, and responding to breakdowns that shut down production lines. They work on motor drives, PLCs, sensors, control panels, and power distribution equipment — and they do it under pressure, because every minute of unplanned downtime costs money.

Electrical Technicians install, test, and maintain electrical systems and equipment in manufacturing plants, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. They work under engineer direction and applicable code requirements to wire equipment, troubleshoot electrical problems, and keep power and control systems operating safely — a hands-on role at the intersection of skilled trade and technical knowledge.

Facilities Engineers plan, design, and manage the physical infrastructure that manufacturing operations depend on — HVAC, compressed air, electrical distribution, plumbing, waste systems, and building structure. They keep the plant environment operating within conditions required for both production quality and regulatory compliance, and they manage capital projects that upgrade or expand facility capabilities.

Facilities Managers oversee the physical plant of a manufacturing facility — buildings, utilities, grounds, and support infrastructure — ensuring everything from the roof to the compressed air system to the parking lot operates reliably and in compliance with applicable regulations. They manage budgets, contractors, maintenance programs, and internal facilities staff to keep the production environment functional and safe.

Forklift Operators move raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods within manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and distribution centers using counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, and other powered industrial trucks. They're responsible for safe and efficient material movement, inventory accuracy, and the condition of the loads and equipment they handle.

A Functional Safety Engineer makes sure the electronic and software controls in vehicles, process plants and machinery detect faults and reach a safe state, working to standards such as ISO 26262, IEC 61511 and IEC 62061. The job runs from hazard analysis through safety requirements, FMEDA and fault tree analysis to a finished safety case that an assessor can audit. Employers include automotive suppliers, chemical and refining companies, machine builders and engineering services firms. BLS files the work with health and safety engineers, whose May 2025 median pay was $115,160, with 10th to 90th percentile pay of $68,420 to $171,250.

An industrial engineer designs and improves the systems that produce goods and services: plant layouts, staffing levels, work standards, material flow, and quality controls. Working between the production floor and the engineering office, the role uses time studies, statistics, and simulation to cut waste, delay, and cost. Industrial engineers report to operations, engineering, or continuous improvement leaders, and the same methods apply well outside the factory. Federal wage data for May 2025 put the median annual pay at $102,440, with the 10th percentile at $74,370 and the 90th at $159,860.

Industrial Maintenance Mechanics keep production equipment running by diagnosing mechanical failures, performing repairs, and executing preventive maintenance on the machinery — conveyors, presses, pumps, gearboxes, pneumatic and hydraulic systems — that manufacturing operations depend on. When equipment fails, they get it back in service; when it's running, they keep it from failing.

Industrial Project Managers in manufacturing lead cross-functional projects from initiation through closeout — capital investments, new product launches, process improvement programs, technology implementations, and facility changes. They are accountable for delivering defined scope on schedule, within budget, and meeting stakeholder expectations, while managing the risks and dependencies that make industrial projects complex.

Instrumentation Technicians install, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot the measurement and control devices — pressure transmitters, flow meters, temperature sensors, level instruments, and analyzers — that monitor and control industrial processes. Their work ensures that the readings used to control production processes and regulatory compliance reporting are accurate.

An Inventory Control Specialist keeps the stock records in a plant's ERP or warehouse management system matched to what physically sits in each bin, rack and staging lane. The job lives between receiving, the production floor and shipping: running cycle counts, chasing variances to their cause, posting adjustments, and holding lot and serial records together so a recall or quality hold can be traced fast. BLS groups the work under Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks, which paid a median of $45,260 in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $34,650 and the 90th at $62,190.

Lead Technicians supervise a team of maintenance or production technicians in manufacturing facilities, acting as the working senior hand who both performs technical work and coordinates crew assignments, troubleshooting, and shift handoffs. They sit between frontline technicians and the maintenance or production supervisor, translating operational priorities into daily task execution while keeping equipment uptime and safety standards on track. The role is a common proving ground before a move into full-time supervision or a reliability-engineering specialty.

Lean Manufacturing Engineers design and implement process improvements that reduce waste, cut cycle times, and improve quality across production operations. They apply tools from the Toyota Production System — value stream mapping, kaizen events, 5S, kanban, and standard work — to attack inefficiencies in manufacturing flow and drive measurable changes in productivity, lead time, and cost.

A Lithography Engineer owns the patterning step in a semiconductor fab: the scanners, coat-and-develop tracks, photomasks and recipes that print each circuit layer onto the wafer. The role sits in the fab's process engineering group beside etch, metrology, integration and yield teams, and it is judged on overlay, critical dimension control, defects and tool availability. BLS does not report the title separately. In May 2025, Engineers, All Other in semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing earned a median of $132,760, with the 10th percentile at $81,230 and the 90th at $211,370. Employers are chipmakers, foundries, research fabs, and the toolmakers and materials suppliers that serve them.

A machine operator sets up, runs and adjusts production equipment in a factory: CNC lathes and mills, stamping presses, injection molding machines, extruders and packaging lines. The operator keeps the machine producing parts to print, measures output against the drawing, handles changeovers and routine care, and reports faults to maintenance. Operators work in metal and plastics shops, food and consumer goods plants, and contract manufacturers, reporting to a shift lead or production supervisor. For multiple machine tool setters, operators and tenders, BLS put the May 2025 median wage at $47,180, with the lowest tenth earning under $35,780 and the top tenth above $74,450.

Machinists set up and operate machine tools — lathes, milling machines, drill presses, and CNC machining centers — to cut metal and other materials to precise dimensions. They work from engineering drawings and job travelers, select appropriate tooling, write or modify CNC programs, and inspect finished parts against tolerances that are often measured in thousandths of an inch.

Maintenance Managers direct all maintenance activities at a manufacturing facility — preventive and corrective maintenance programs, capital repairs, spare parts inventory, and the team of technicians and supervisors who execute them. They own the maintenance budget, are accountable for equipment uptime and overall equipment effectiveness, and are the primary interface between maintenance and production on scheduling conflicts and resource allocation.

Maintenance Supervisors run day-to-day maintenance operations in manufacturing facilities, directing a crew of technicians and mechanics across shifts to execute work orders, respond to breakdowns, and complete scheduled preventive maintenance. They sit between frontline maintenance workers and the Maintenance Manager, accountable for shift execution, safety compliance, CMMS discipline, and team performance. Most come up through the trades themselves, five to ten years as a mechanic, electrician, or multi-craft technician, before stepping into the first-line leadership seat. The role increasingly includes reading condition-monitoring alerts and AI-generated shift handover summaries, not just assigning wrenches to work orders, and translating both into a workable plan for the crew before the shift even starts.

Maintenance Technician Electricians perform electrical maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair on production equipment, power distribution systems, and facility electrical infrastructure in manufacturing facilities. They work on 480V three-phase motor circuits, variable frequency drives, control panels, PLC systems, and instrumentation — diagnosing faults with test equipment and restoring equipment to operation while meeting OSHA electrical safety requirements.

Manufacturing Chemical Engineers design, optimize, and troubleshoot the chemical processes used to manufacture materials, chemicals, fuels, food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products at industrial scale. They apply principles of thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, mass transfer, and fluid dynamics to processes that convert raw materials into products reliably, safely, and economically.

A Manufacturing Engineer designs, sets up and improves the processes that turn an engineering drawing into a part or product a plant can build repeatably, at rate and at cost. The job sits between product design and the production floor: choosing equipment and tooling, writing routings and work instructions, qualifying new processes, and fixing them when scrap or downtime climbs. O*NET files the title as a detailed occupation under Industrial Engineers, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $102,440 for that group in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $74,370 and the 90th at $159,860.

Manufacturing Financial Analysts in manufacturing build the models, reports, and analysis that help leadership understand how the business is performing and what financial decisions make sense. They prepare variance analyses, capital investment evaluations, cost analyses, and forecasts that connect factory-floor realities — material costs, labor efficiency, overhead absorption — to the financial statements the CFO presents to the board.

Manufacturing Inventory Managers are responsible for the accuracy, availability, and financial performance of inventory in manufacturing and distribution environments. They oversee cycle count programs, manage inventory policies (safety stock, reorder points, ABC classifications), lead teams of inventory control specialists, and work with supply chain and operations leadership to optimize the trade-off between working capital and service levels.

Manufacturing Logistics Coordinators manage the movement of raw materials, components, and finished goods through a manufacturing supply chain — scheduling shipments, coordinating with carriers and freight forwarders, tracking deliveries, and resolving disruptions before they stop production lines. They sit at the intersection of purchasing, production planning, warehouse, and transportation, communicating daily with suppliers, carriers, and internal stakeholders.

Manufacturing Managers oversee the production operations of a manufacturing facility or a defined section of one — managing supervisors, production metrics, cost performance, safety, and quality while coordinating with engineering, maintenance, supply chain, and HR. They are accountable for the people, the output, and the cost of getting product out the door.

Manufacturing Operations Coordinators provide scheduling, documentation, reporting, and cross-functional coordination support to manufacturing operations — bridging the gap between production supervisors, planning, maintenance, quality, and supply chain. They track production metrics, maintain operational records, coordinate meetings and actions, and handle the administrative backbone that keeps manufacturing organizations informed and aligned.

Manufacturing Project Engineers manage the technical and organizational aspects of engineering projects at manufacturing facilities — capital equipment installations, facility upgrades, process changes, and new technology implementations. They coordinate across engineering disciplines, procurement, construction, and operations to deliver projects on schedule, within budget, and to specification.

Manufacturing Project Manager specializes in managing the technical projects that directly impact production operations — new product launches, manufacturing process changes, capacity additions, equipment commissioning, and lean or automation implementations. Unlike general project managers, they need direct understanding of manufacturing processes, production systems, and the operational constraints that shape what's executable on a factory floor.

A manufacturing quality control manager runs the inspection and measurement function in a manufacturing plant: the inspectors, gauges, sampling plans and nonconformance records that decide whether product ships. The job sits between production, engineering and the customer, and in a certified plant it answers to an ISO 9001, IATF 16949 or FDA quality system. BLS counts the role inside industrial production managers, a group it says is often called quality control systems managers. Across manufacturing, that occupation's median pay was $125,280 in May 2025, with the 10th and 90th percentiles at $78,120 and $198,880.

Manufacturing Research and Development Engineers design experiments, develop prototypes, and evaluate new materials or processes to advance product performance, reduce manufacturing cost, or create entirely new product lines. They sit at the boundary between research and production, translating scientific findings into manufacturable designs and working closely with manufacturing, quality, and commercial teams to bring innovations to market.

Manufacturing Safety Coordinators support and implement environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs at manufacturing facilities. They conduct safety inspections, lead incident investigations, deliver training, maintain OSHA compliance records, and work with supervisors and employees to identify and correct hazards before injuries occur.

Manufacturing Safety Managers lead the environmental, health, and safety function at manufacturing facilities, setting safety strategy, managing compliance with OSHA and environmental regulations, directing safety staff, and building the management systems and cultural practices that drive injury rates toward zero. They are accountable for safety performance metrics and serve as the primary regulatory interface for OSHA inspections and environmental reporting.

Manufacturing Sales Managers in manufacturing lead sales teams that sell industrial products, components, or equipment to OEMs, distributors, or end users. They set revenue targets, coach sales representatives, manage key accounts, develop pricing strategy, and work closely with engineering and operations to translate customer requirements into product and delivery commitments.

Manufacturing Shipping and Receiving Clerks process all inbound and outbound freight at manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and distribution centers. They verify incoming deliveries against purchase orders, prepare outbound shipments with accurate documentation, maintain shipping records, and coordinate with carriers and internal departments to keep material flow moving without delays.

Manufacturing Shipping Supervisors manage the outbound freight function at manufacturing facilities and distribution centers, overseeing shipping clerks, coordinating carrier pickups, verifying shipment accuracy, and ensuring on-time delivery performance to customers. They are accountable for shipping accuracy, documentation compliance, labor productivity, and safety on the dock.

Manufacturing Supervisors lead frontline production teams, operators, assemblers, and machine operators, on a single shift or area, ensuring daily output targets, quality standards, and safety requirements are met. They are the direct management layer for hourly production workers, handling assignments, performance coaching, safety enforcement, and real-time problem-solving when production doesn't go as planned. The role sits at the center of a facility's daily operating rhythm: schedules, staffing, quality holds, and maintenance issues all route through the supervisor first. As manufacturers lean harder on AI-assisted scheduling and quality tools in 2026, supervisors are increasingly the ones translating system flags and data into concrete floor action.

Manufacturing Technical Support Specialists in manufacturing provide product and application support to customers, field sales teams, and distributors — diagnosing installation or performance issues, answering technical questions, resolving warranty claims, and feeding customer failure data back to engineering for product improvement. They bridge the gap between the factory's engineering knowledge and the customer's operational reality.

Manufacturing Technicians perform technical production work in manufacturing environments that require more precision, documentation, or specialized skill than general assembly or machine operation. Common in electronics, medical devices, aerospace, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, they build, test, inspect, or process components and assemblies to exacting specifications using prescribed procedures and controlled documentation.

Manufacturing Warehouse Workers receive, store, pick, pack, and ship products in distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and retail back rooms. The work is physical and fast-paced, with daily performance tracked against output targets. It is one of the most common entry points into supply chain and logistics careers.

Manufacturing Welding Supervisors direct the daily work of welders and welder fabricators, ensuring that production schedules are met, weld quality meets specifications, safety rules are followed, and the welding team has the equipment, materials, and procedures needed to do the work. They combine hands-on welding knowledge with supervisory and administrative responsibilities.

A material handler keeps a factory supplied: receiving inbound freight, putting it away, feeding parts and raw stock to production lines, and moving finished goods to shipping. The role sits between the warehouse and the plant floor, usually reporting to a materials, logistics or shipping supervisor, and runs on scanners, pallet jacks and forklifts. O*NET lists material handler as a reported title for the federal occupation Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. For that occupation, BLS reported a May 2025 median of $40,240, with the 10th percentile at $31,270 and the 90th at $55,140.

A material planner schedules the purchased parts and raw materials a factory needs, turning the production plan into dated purchase orders through MRP and keeping inventory lean without starving the line. The role sits between production control, purchasing and the warehouse, and the planner answers for both shortages and excess stock. BLS groups planners under production, planning, and expediting clerks; in manufacturing, that occupation's May 2025 pay ran from $41,770 at the 10th percentile to $88,850 at the 90th, with a median of $60,970. ERP fluency, clean master data and ASCM's CPIM credential carry from plant to plant.

Materials Managers lead all material flow functions at a manufacturing facility — purchasing, production planning, inventory control, warehousing, and shipping and receiving. They own inventory investment levels, supplier delivery performance, and material cost, while ensuring production never stops for want of materials and that finished goods ship on schedule. The role requires both strategic supply chain thinking and direct operational accountability.

Mechanical Designers create detailed 3D models and 2D engineering drawings for mechanical parts, assemblies, and systems using CAD software. They translate engineering concepts and requirements into manufacturable designs — applying GD&T standards, material specifications, and manufacturing process knowledge to produce drawings that shops can actually build from. They work closely with engineers, machinists, and fabricators throughout the design and production process.

A Mechanical Engineer designs, analyzes and tests machines, tools, engines and thermal devices, then works with production teams so those designs can be built at volume and at cost. In manufacturing, the job spans product design, production equipment, tooling and fixtures, and failure investigation, sitting between R&D, quality and the shop floor. Day to day, the work runs from CAD models and simulation through prototype testing to the engineering change orders that put a revision on the floor. The national median was $104,110 in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $73,990 and the 90th percentile at $164,340, according to federal wage data.

Mechanical Technicians build, test, install, maintain, and troubleshoot mechanical systems and equipment in manufacturing, R&D, and field service environments. They work from engineering drawings and specifications to assemble components, run functional tests, diagnose mechanical failures, and perform precision work that bridges the gap between engineering design and production reality.

Operations Directors lead manufacturing operations across multiple sites, product lines, or business units — owning the P&L, operational strategy, capital investment, and organizational development for their scope. They are the senior executive accountable for production output, operating costs, quality performance, and safety across large manufacturing organizations, bridging strategic direction from the C-suite with operational execution by plant managers and their teams.

An operations manager in manufacturing runs the production side of a plant: the crews, machines, schedule and spending that turn customer orders into shipped product. The seat usually sits above the shift supervisors and reports to a plant manager or a regional director of operations, with authority over production planning, staffing, maintenance coordination and the department budget. BLS files the work under Industrial Production Managers, where the May 2025 median wage was $126,060, the lowest 10 percent earned under $78,000 and the top 10 percent earned above $205,520. Success is measured on safety, quality, delivery and cost.

Packaging Engineers design, test, and specify packaging systems that protect products during shipping and storage, meet regulatory requirements, and minimize material cost. They work across industries including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and consumer goods, collaborating with product development, supply chain, and marketing teams.

A Photonics Engineer designs devices and systems that generate, guide, modulate and detect light: silicon photonic integrated circuits, lasers, modulators, photodetectors, electro-optic sensors and the optical assemblies around them. In manufacturing, the job sits between physics and the fab, turning simulation results into layouts a foundry can build and a factory can package. BLS files the title under Engineers, All Other (SOC 17-2199); in computer and electronic product manufacturing, that group's May 2025 pay ran from $78,950 at the 10th percentile to $189,130 at the 90th, with a median of $125,950.

A Photonics Test Engineer builds and runs the measurement systems that prove photonic chips, lasers, modulators and optical modules work: wafer probers, fiber-alignment stages, optical spectrum analyzers and bit error rate testers tied together by test software. The job sits between device design and the factory floor, turning a specification into a test plan, a characterization data set and a production test station. BLS does not track the title, so pay is taken from Engineers, All Other in semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing, where BLS put the May 2025 median at $132,760 and the 10th and 90th percentiles at $81,230 and $211,370.

Plant Engineers manage the engineering infrastructure of a manufacturing facility — equipment reliability, capital projects, utility systems, and regulatory compliance. They bridge the gap between production operations and engineering discipline, ensuring that the physical plant supports production targets at sustainable cost.

Plant Human Resources Managers in manufacturing oversee the people practices that keep a production workforce operating effectively — recruiting production and skilled-trade workers, managing labor relations, administering benefits and compensation programs, handling employee relations issues, and ensuring compliance with employment law in an environment where shift schedules, union contracts, and safety regulations add complexity not found in office environments.

Plant Maintenance Technicians perform hands-on maintenance and repair on production equipment, facility systems, and utilities in manufacturing plants. They combine mechanical, electrical, and sometimes instrumentation skills to troubleshoot failures, execute preventive maintenance, and keep equipment running to production requirements. Multi-craft technicians — capable across disciplines — are the most sought-after and best-compensated workers in this category.

A Plant Manager is the senior operations leader at a single manufacturing site, answerable for safety, quality, output, cost and the workforce inside the fence line. The job reports to a division or regional operations executive and directs the heads of production, maintenance, quality, engineering and site HR. BLS classifies it under Industrial Production Managers (SOC 11-3051), and O*NET lists plant manager among that occupation's reported job titles. For the occupation in the manufacturing sector, BLS put the May 2025 median wage at $125,280, with the 10th percentile at $78,120 and the 90th at $198,880. BLS does not report site heads separately from other production managers.

A Predictive Maintenance Engineer builds and runs the condition monitoring program that tells a plant which machines are degrading and how long they have before they fail. The role sits between reliability engineering and data analysis: it owns the sensors, the vibration, thermal and oil data, the alarm limits and the failure prediction models, and hands maintenance planners a ranked list of work. BLS does not report the title separately. Its closest occupation, Mechanical Engineers, paid a median of $104,110 in May 2025, with a 10th to 90th percentile range of $73,990 to $164,340.

A process engineer in manufacturing owns how a product gets made: the parameters, sequence, equipment settings and controls that turn raw material into parts meeting specification at the planned rate and cost. The role sits between production, quality and maintenance, and it usually reports into plant engineering or operations. O*NET lists process engineer among the reported job titles for industrial engineers, and BLS data for that occupation put the May 2025 median wage at $102,440, with the 10th percentile at $74,370 and the 90th at $159,860.

Process Improvement Engineers lead structured efforts to reduce waste, improve quality, cut costs, and increase throughput at manufacturing and operations facilities. Drawing on lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and data analysis methods, they identify improvement opportunities, lead cross-functional projects, and build the capability of the broader organization to sustain gains.

Product Development Engineers design new products and improve existing ones, taking concepts from initial specification through prototyping, testing, and production launch. They work at the boundary between what customers need and what manufacturing can produce, translating requirements into physical designs that are functional, manufacturable, and cost-effective.

Production Assistants support manufacturing operations by performing assembly tasks, material handling, quality checks, and documentation under the direction of production supervisors and operators. The role is a common entry point into manufacturing careers, offering on-the-job training and exposure to production systems, safety practices, and team-based work.

Production Associates perform the direct labor tasks that move products through a manufacturing process — assembly, operation of production equipment, quality inspection, and material handling. The role is the backbone of most manufacturing operations, and skilled Production Associates with GMP or quality training are consistently in demand across industries.

Production Control Supervisors manage the planning, scheduling, and coordination systems that keep manufacturing operations aligned with customer demand. They oversee a team of production schedulers and planners, resolve conflicts between capacity and demand, and serve as the operational link between production, sales, and supply chain functions.

A production coordinator keeps a manufacturing plant's schedule, materials and paperwork moving in step. The job sits between the planners who build the schedule and the supervisors who run the floor: releasing work orders, chasing late parts, updating ERP records and reporting where each job stands. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts the work under production, planning, and expediting clerks, an occupation that held 390,160 jobs in May 2025. National pay for that group runs from $40,080 at the 10th percentile to $86,000 at the 90th, with a median of $59,650. The desk is a plant office, close enough to walk the line when a job stalls.

A production engineer is the plant-floor engineer who keeps running manufacturing processes in specification: chasing down defects and downtime, adjusting equipment and settings, pushing changes through formal change control, and bringing new products onto lines that are already in operation. The role sits between production supervision and design or manufacturing engineering. BLS does not report production engineers separately; the nearest occupation is Industrial Engineers, which O*NET uses to house manufacturing engineers. In the manufacturing sector, that occupation paid $73,960 at the 10th percentile, $101,160 at the median and $150,350 at the 90th percentile in May 2025.

A production manager runs the manufacturing output of a plant or a defined part of one: a department, a product line, a shift. The role sits between the plant manager and the front-line supervisors, and it owns the numbers the floor lives by: schedule attainment, scrap, labor cost and safety. BLS classifies the job as industrial production manager, an occupation that employed 246,250 people in May 2025. Pay runs from $78,000 at the 10th percentile to $205,520 at the 90th, with a median of $126,060. BLS notes that the job usually requires years in supervisory or other leadership roles, and some managers start as production workers.

A production operator runs the machines and lines that turn raw material into finished goods: filling lines in a food plant, extruders in a plastics shop, reactors and blenders in a chemical or pharmaceutical facility. The job sits on the plant floor between material handlers and maintenance technicians, reporting to a shift supervisor or lead operator. Operators set up equipment, hold the process inside its specification, check product at set intervals and record what the line produced. BLS does not track the title on its own; for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, a close operator category, its May 2025 wage survey put the median at $43,220, with the 10th percentile at $33,390 and the 90th at $60,030.

A production planner decides what a factory builds, in what order and on which line, turning customer orders, forecasts and material availability into a schedule the plant can actually run. The role sits between sales, purchasing and the shop floor, inside a production control or supply chain group, and much of the day is spent in the ERP system's MRP and scheduling screens. BLS counts planners under Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks; in manufacturing, that occupation's May 2025 pay ran from $41,770 at the 10th percentile to $88,850 at the 90th, with a median of $60,970.

Production Planner and Schedulers combine the demand planning and materials coordination functions of a production planner with the detailed sequencing and finite capacity scheduling of a production scheduler. They translate customer orders and forecasts into a buildable production schedule, manage the daily cadence of work order execution, and bridge planning systems with shop floor reality.

Production Schedulers build and maintain the detailed execution schedules that tell manufacturing what to run, on which equipment, and in what sequence on a day-by-day and shift-by-shift basis. Focused on the near-term horizon — typically 1 to 4 weeks — they translate higher-level production plans into actionable shop floor schedules that minimize downtime, reduce changeover waste, and meet customer commitments.

Production Supervisors manage a team of production operators during a shift, ensuring that safety, quality, output, and housekeeping standards are met. They are the first-line management layer in manufacturing, the person accountable when a shift misses schedule, generates a quality issue, or has a safety incident, and the person who develops and holds accountable the hourly workforce on their team. The role demands consistent application of standards, real-time intervention when performance deviates, and thorough documentation of every shift event, from downtime logs to corrective action records. Supervisors who apply the same expectations to every team member build credibility faster than those who are unpredictable, and they coordinate with maintenance, quality, and material replenishment to keep the shift on target.

Production Workers perform the hands-on tasks that create, assemble, package, or process manufactured goods. The term encompasses a broad range of roles from entry-level general labor to skilled equipment operators, with the common thread being direct involvement in the physical production of products across all manufacturing industries.

Quality Assurance Analysts design and run the inspection plans, audits, and nonconformance processes that verify manufactured products match design specifications and regulatory requirements. They pull production data to trace defects to a root cause, write corrective action reports, and work with engineering and operations to close the gap between what was planned and what actually got built. As machine vision and inline measurement systems take over repetitive visual checks, the job is shifting toward configuring those systems, validating their output, and investigating the defects that still slip through.

Quality Assurance Managers lead the quality function at manufacturing facilities, overseeing inspection programs, quality management systems, supplier quality, and regulatory compliance. They manage QA teams, own the corrective action process, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and serve as the primary interface with customers and regulatory bodies on quality matters.

A quality assurance technician checks incoming materials, parts in process and finished goods against drawings and specifications, records what the gauges say, and holds anything that fails until engineering decides what happens to it. BLS counts the job within Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (SOC 51-9061), and O*NET lists QA Technician (Quality Assurance Technician) among that occupation's reported titles. In manufacturing, which employed 382,920 people in the occupation in May 2025, BLS put the median wage at $49,270, with the 10th percentile at $36,960 and the 90th at $77,090. The work sits between production, which wants parts moving, and quality engineering, which owns the rules.

Quality Control Engineers design and implement the measurement systems, sampling plans, and statistical controls that keep manufacturing processes producing conforming parts. They analyze process data, develop control plans, lead FMEA reviews, and drive corrective actions when processes or products fall outside specification.

Quality Control Inspectors examine manufactured parts, assemblies, and materials against drawings, specifications, and workmanship standards using measurement tools and visual inspection criteria. They record inspection results, reject nonconforming material, and provide the documentation trail that supports quality decisions throughout the production process.

Quality Control Technicians perform inspection, testing, and data collection activities to verify that manufactured products meet dimensional, visual, and functional specifications. They operate measurement equipment, document findings, write nonconformance reports, and support the quality engineering team with data gathering for process improvement and corrective action activities.

A Quality Engineer in manufacturing designs the controls that keep defective parts from being made or shipped: failure mode analyses, control plans, measurement system studies, capability studies, and corrective action. The role sits between production, design engineering, suppliers, and the customer's quality team, and usually reports to a plant or division quality manager. BLS does not track quality engineers as a separate occupation; O*NET files the title under Industrial Engineers, where the May 2025 median wage was $102,440, with the 10th percentile at $74,370 and the 90th at $159,860. The standards a plant is audited against shape much of the daily work.

Quality Inspectors examine manufactured parts, components, and assemblies to verify they conform to engineering drawings, customer specifications, and workmanship standards. They use measurement instruments and visual criteria to accept or reject material, document their findings, and ensure nonconforming products are segregated before they reach the next production step or ship to customers.

Quality Managers own the quality management system at a manufacturing site — overseeing QC, QA, supplier quality, and regulatory compliance while managing a team of engineers, technicians, and inspectors. They are accountable for product conformance, customer satisfaction metrics, and continuous improvement in defect rates and cost of poor quality.

Quality Technicians support the quality function at manufacturing facilities by performing inspections, gathering production data, writing nonconformance reports, and assisting quality engineers with measurement system studies and corrective action investigations. The role bridges hands-on inspection work and analytical quality support, requiring both measurement skills and documentation precision.

A robotics technician installs, programs, troubleshoots and repairs the industrial robots and automated cells on a factory floor: the arm, its controller and teach pendant, the end-of-arm tooling, the safety devices and the conveyors and PLC-driven equipment around it. The job sits between plant maintenance and the engineers who design the cell, and the work is hands-on and done on the production schedule. BLS counts the job inside electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians; in manufacturing, that occupation earned a median of $70,810 in May 2025, with the 10th and 90th percentiles at $49,610 and $100,740.

A Semiconductor Process Engineer owns one or more steps inside a wafer fab, such as thin-film deposition, plasma etch or chemical mechanical planarization, and answers for keeping that step on target, stable and high-yielding. The engineer writes and tunes tool recipes, runs designed experiments, watches control charts and chases defects back to a root cause with equipment, integration and yield teams. BLS has no line for the title. Its closest fit, Engineers, All Other working in semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing, earned a May 2025 median of $132,760, with the 10th and 90th percentiles at $81,230 and $211,370.

Senior Manufacturing Engineers lead technically complex process development, capital equipment justification, and production improvement initiatives at manufacturing facilities. They mentor junior engineers, own significant capital projects, drive cost reduction programs, and serve as the technical authority on process capability and manufacturing feasibility for new and existing products.

Senior Manufacturing Project Managers in manufacturing lead the most complex, high-value, or strategically important projects at a facility or across multiple sites — capital expansions, new product program launches, facility relocations, ERP implementations, or major customer program wins. They manage cross-functional teams, substantial budgets, tight schedules, and senior stakeholder relationships simultaneously.

Senior Mechanical Engineers lead the design and development of complex mechanical systems and products, providing technical direction to project teams, mentoring junior engineers, and taking ownership of design decisions from concept through production. They apply advanced analysis, testing methodology, and design for manufacturability principles to solve problems that exceed the scope of less experienced engineers.

Senior Process Engineers lead the development, optimization, and troubleshooting of manufacturing processes at a level of complexity and autonomy that requires both deep technical expertise and organizational leadership skill. They own significant process development projects, mentor junior engineers, resolve chronic production problems, and serve as the technical authority for process definition and process change management.

Supplier Quality Engineers manage the quality performance of a manufacturer's supply chain: qualifying new suppliers, approving production parts, conducting supplier audits, managing corrective actions on nonconforming incoming material, and building the supplier quality systems that prevent defects from entering the production line. The role combines technical quality engineering depth with direct supplier-facing relationship management, and ASQ recognizes it as a distinct credentialed specialty through its Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP) certification, separate from the general Certified Quality Engineer track. Most SQEs split their week between desk-based PPAP review and travel to supplier plants.

Supply Chain Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret supply chain data to identify inefficiencies, reduce costs, and improve operational performance across procurement, inventory, logistics, and production planning functions. They build reports and models that give supply chain managers and executives the visibility to make better decisions about sourcing, inventory, and distribution.

Supply Chain Managers lead the end-to-end supply chain function at manufacturing companies — overseeing procurement, inventory management, logistics, demand and production planning, and supplier performance. They manage teams, own supply chain cost and service level targets, and develop the strategies and operational systems that keep production supplied and customers serviced at competitive cost.

Tool and Die Makers design, fabricate, and maintain the precision tooling, dies, jigs, and fixtures that manufacturers rely on to produce everything from automotive stampings to appliance housings. Working with tolerances measured in thousandths of an inch, they combine machine tool operation, blueprint reading, and metallurgical knowledge to build and repair the equipment that makes mass production possible.

Tool Makers fabricate, modify, and maintain the jigs, fixtures, gauges, cutting tools, and special machinery attachments that production operations depend on. Working to tight tolerances from engineering drawings and CAD files, they produce one-off and small-batch precision components using a combination of conventional and CNC machine tools, then verify their work with precision measuring equipment.

A Warehouse Manager runs a storage facility or distribution center: receiving, put-away, storage, picking, packing and shipping, plus the people, equipment and inventory records behind them. In a manufacturing company the role sits between purchasing, production and customer shipping, controlling raw materials coming in and finished goods going out. BLS counts the job inside Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers. In the Warehousing and Storage industry, that occupation paid a median of $99,330 in May 2025, with the 10th and 90th percentiles at $75,540 and $165,720.

Welders join metal components by applying controlled heat and filler material using MIG, TIG, stick, flux-core, and other arc welding processes. They work from blueprints and weld procedure specifications across industries including manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, pipeline, and aerospace, producing welds that must meet visual and sometimes radiographic or ultrasonic inspection standards.

A welder fabricator turns plate, tube and structural shapes into finished assemblies, handling layout, cutting, fit-up, welding and finishing from a single drawing. The job sits on the floor of fabricated metal shops, machinery plants and structural steel fabricators, between the engineer who issues the print and the inspector who signs off on the welds. BLS classifies the work under welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers. In May 2025 that occupation's national median wage was $53,750, with the 10th percentile at $39,240 and the 90th percentile at $77,530.