Manufacturing Jobs Overview
Manufacturing jobs span a wide range of industries, such as aerospace, biotechnology, consumer electronics, and transportation. Some of these industries are at the forefront of new advancements while others make established essential products, such as life-saving medical devices.
Many of these jobs are available even if you do not have a college degree. There are also opportunities for skilled workers, as well as seasoned managers. Here are some examples of jobs in the manufacturing industry:
- manufacturing workers or manufacturing associates make products on the factory floor by programming and overseeing machines, or by hand
- manufacturing planners make sure that products are completed according to schedule
- quality control associates check the completed products for quality and safety
- managers oversee the manufacturing or the quality control process
There are also jobs available outside of the factory floor, for example for engineers, designers, and supply chain managers. If you are interested in other production jobs, you can also search for:
Education and Skills for Manufacturing Jobs
About 40% of manufacturing workers have a college degree. Factories are more likely to require a this for complex factory jobs, for example to operate advanced manufacturing equipment, and for management positions. For jobs that do require a college degree, an associate diploma is sometimes enough.
Some options for educational paths are:
- a skilled trade degree
- machining technology
- a degree in specific machining equipment, for example CNC machines
- manufacturing technology
A certificate can also help you on the job market. There are many options, depending on your field of work. These are some common ones:
Manufacturing workers need to be highly detailed and organized to accurately perform all the steps in the production process. You will need to thrive in an independent environment where you often perform the work alone, although you may have other factory workers around you. Workers often spend a lot of time on their feet, so you should be in good health. You can learn more about the requirements in our job description templates for production jobs.
Update Your Manufacturing Resume
When it comes to your job application, it’s wise to avoid an assembly-line approach. Instead of sending out the same application to as many employers as possible, focus on targeting your resume and cover letter to the specific position and employer. You don’t have to write new documents for each ad, but make sure to tweak them so they best fit the job.
You can use the following sample resumes for inspiration:
We also have a range of sample cover letters to help you.
Interviewing for a Manufacturing Job
Prepare for your job interview by reading our articles on common interview questions, as well as by practicing for questions related to your field. Rehearse your answers to these examples:
- How do you inspect a part after manufacturing?
- What type of maintenance does a CNC machine need?
- What industry software are you familiar with?
How Much Do Manufacturing Jobs Pay?
Be ready for a job offer by finding out the median salary in your area so that you can evaluate the offer and potentially negotiate better pay. You can find many different jobs to compare on our salary tools, such as the median nationwide salaries for a production machine operator, which is $30,968, and a manufacturing manager, which is $84,660.
Learn More about Manufacturing Companies in our Profiles
Browse our company profiles to learn more about prospective employers. You can use the information you find here to evaluate if the company is the right fit for you, tailor your application to the company, and prepare for your job interview.
Find Manufacturing Jobs on Monster
Save time in the job search process by creating a profile on Monster. This will enable you to search directly to jobs you find here, as well as get notifications when new postings appear. By making your search more efficient, you will have more time to be on top of the quality control of your job applications.