Best Paying Manufacturing Jobs

Updated on February 26, 2024

The manufacturing sector has evolved significantly, especially in response to recent global challenges, leading to increased demand for certain goods. This demand has pushed up wages and underscored the importance of attracting top talent. In the manufacturing industry, there are numerous high-paying career opportunities that require a blend of skill, experience, and, in some cases, formal education. Here, we explore some of the top-paying manufacturing jobs, highlighting job titles, average salaries, responsibilities, and the required education.

Human Resources Generalist

  • Average Salary: $62,000
  • Job Description: Oversee daily HR tasks like employee compensation and benefits, training programs, new employee hiring, and performance evaluations.
  • Responsibilities: Employee relations, HR Information Systems, recruiting, benefits administration.
  • Required Education: Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field.

Entry-Level Manufacturing Engineer

  • Average Salary: $73,000
  • Job Description: Design efficient manufacturing processes and constantly seek ways to improve workflows and integrate modern technology.
  • Responsibilities: Manufacturing process engineering, process improvement, lean manufacturing, project management.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering or a related field.

Cost Estimator

  • Average Salary: $86,000
  • Job Description: Analyze and collect data to estimate the costs associated with manufacturing projects, including time, money, materials, and labor.
  • Responsibilities: Data analysis, construction estimating, understanding blueprints.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field.

Operations Manager

  • Average Salary: $111,000
  • Job Description: Oversee production including purchasing, warehousing, and manufacturing departments to ensure smooth operations.
  • Responsibilities: Operations management, budget management, safety regulation enforcement.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field.

Human Resources Manager

  • Average Salary: $113,000
  • Job Description: Oversee employee policies, procedures, and compliance with a focus on competitive benefits and salary packages.
  • Responsibilities: Employee relations, benefits and compensation, performance management.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in human resources or a related field.

Mechanical Engineer

  • Average Salary: $119,000
  • Job Description: Involved in planning and manufacturing products by designing, developing, testing, and surveying mechanical devices.
  • Responsibilities: Engineering design, Computer-Aided Design, project management.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field.

Manufacturing Manager

  • Average Salary: $120,000
  • Job Description: Plan, schedule, and manage manufacturing processes to improve the production of goods.
  • Responsibilities: Production management, lean manufacturing, safety compliance.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing management, industrial engineering, or a related field.

Information Technology Manager

  • Average Salary: $146,360
  • Job Description: Supervise the company’s computer infrastructure, employee data usage, and security and software platforms.
  • Responsibilities: Network management and administration, IT security.
  • Required Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in information technology, computer science, or a related field.

Final Thoughts

The manufacturing sector offers a wide range of lucrative career opportunities for those with the right blend of skills, experience, and education. From engineering roles that require in-depth technical knowledge to management positions that demand leadership and strategic thinking, there’s a high-paying job in manufacturing for a variety of professional backgrounds.

Other Jobs in Industrial and Manufacturing Sectors

Sources

Top Workplaces: https://topworkplaces.com

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I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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