According to a recent CNBC report, the manufacturing sector employs around 12 million

Americans.1 These 12 million individuals, who collectively form the backbone of the most

productive zone of our economic system, are spread across a wide variety of occupations.

Let's take a look at the most popular occupations associated with manufacturing.

• A machinist is trained to

craft precision parts with

the use of machine tools

such as lathes, grinders,

and milling machines. A

high degree of expertise

is needed to ensure that

manufactured parts are

produced according to

exact specifications.

• The median pay for a

machinist is $40,910/year

(2012).2

• A quality control (QC)

inspector examines

manufactured parts for

defects that might

compromise their

functionality or structural

integrity. This position is

found in a wide range of

industries.

• The median pay for a

quality control inspector is

$34,460/year (2012).2

• These individuals are responsible

for operating machines that

transport heavy pallets and other

materials around a site. The

forklift is the machine most

commonly associated with this

occupation.

• The median pay for a material

moving machine operator is

$31,530 per year (2012).2

• Sometimes called a production supervisor,

these persons are responsible for

overseeing the day-to-day functioning of a

manufacturing plant, ensuring that all

elements of the production chain are

working properly. They’re also responsible

for developing the production plan that

the facility operates under.

• The median salary for this occupation is

$89,190/year (2012).2

• To ensure that personnel remain safe

from avoidable dangers, it's important to

develop rules and procedures that will

minimize the risk of onsite injury. A

health and safety engineer is the person

responsible for this.

• To accomplish this task, they typically

draw upon a wide range of relevant

knowledge, from health to engineering.

• The median salary for a health and

safety engineer is $76,830/year (2012).2

• Simply put, mechanical engineers

make things—they design

everything from tiny parts found in

cell phones to large machinery that

operate in factories.

• You will need a bachelor's degree at

minimum; some advanced positions

require a graduate degree.

• The median salary of a mechanical

engineer is $80,580/year (2012).2

• How does a company’s

product get delivered to

consumers? That's the

job of a logistician—

they oversee shipping,

warehousing, and

distribution functions so

everything is in the right

place at the right time.

• The median salary of a

logistician is

$72,780/year (2012).2

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