Manufacturing Jobs Hiring Now Across the United States
Browse open manufacturing positions including production operators, CNC machinists, welders, assemblers, quality inspectors, and maintenance technicians. Multiple shifts and skill levels available.
7,060 positions available
Amgen
Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer - Amgen North Carolina Site Lead
Universal Forest Products
Production Associate – Manufacturing / General Labor
Fenner Precision Polymers - USA
Metal Conveyor Belt Loom Specialist and Welding Finisher
Huntington Ingalls Industries
K54/X18 STRUCTURAL WELDING FOREMAN-$5,000 SIGN-ON BONUS
Huntington Ingalls Industries
K54/X18 STRUCTURAL WELDING FOREMAN-$5,000 SIGN-ON BONUS
B. Braun US Device Manufacturing LLC
Production Technician
Timken - Aurora Bearing
Manufacturing Warehouse & Inventory Operations Specialist
CI - The Manufacturing Career HUB
Shipping & Receiving Clerk
Ulster County Manufacturing Job Board
Shipping & Receiving Clerk
FC Industries Inc
Manufacturing Production Worker - Night Shift
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The Nine Roles That Run a Modern Manufacturing Plant
"Manufacturing" sounds like a single job category until you walk through a real production facility. Inside, there are nine distinct roles with different skill requirements, pay tiers, and growth paths. Understanding the map helps you target the right entry point and plan your career trajectory.
Production Operator
Runs machines and equipment on the production floor. Loads materials, monitors output, performs basic quality checks, and handles minor adjustments. Entry-level role for most manufacturing careers. High school diploma typically sufficient.
$17 to $24/hr
CNC Machinist
Operates and programs computer numerical control (CNC) machines that cut precision parts from metal, plastic, and composites. Reads blueprints, sets up tooling, monitors machine performance, and inspects finished parts. Trade school certificate preferred.
$22 to $35/hr
Assembler
Builds finished products from components following work instructions and assembly diagrams. Common in electronics, automotive, and consumer goods manufacturing. Manual dexterity and attention to detail are core requirements.
$16 to $22/hr
Welder
Joins metal parts using MIG, TIG, stick, or flux-core welding processes. Reads blueprints and weld symbols. Works in fabrication, structural construction, and pipefitting environments. Certification through AWS or state programs significantly increases pay.
$22 to $38/hr
Quality Inspector
Inspects parts and finished products against specifications using calipers, micrometers, gauges, and coordinate measuring machines (CMM). Documents results and flags defects. Bridge role between production and engineering.
$20 to $32/hr
Industrial Maintenance Technician
Repairs and maintains production equipment including motors, hydraulics, pneumatics, PLCs, and conveyor systems. Highest-demand role in manufacturing right now due to widespread shortages. Requires electrical and mechanical knowledge.
$25 to $40/hr
Forklift Operator
Moves materials, components, and finished products around the production facility and warehouse. Forklift certification required. Often combined with other warehouse duties. Many production operators rotate into this role for variety.
$17 to $24/hr
Manufacturing Engineer
Designs production processes, troubleshoots quality issues, drives continuous improvement projects, and manages capital equipment installations. Requires engineering degree (mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing). Strong career advancement path.
$70,000 to $115,000/yr
Production Supervisor
Manages a shift of 15 to 40 production workers. Handles scheduling, performance management, training, safety compliance, and production targets. Often promoted from senior production roles. Strong people skills required.
$65,000 to $95,000/yr
Six Manufacturing Sectors and Where Hiring is Strongest
Manufacturing is not one industry. The semiconductor boom triggered by the CHIPS Act looks completely different from food and beverage processing in terms of pay, training requirements, and geographic concentration. Knowing which sector you are targeting changes everything from where to apply to which certifications matter.
Semiconductor Manufacturing
CHIPS Act funding has triggered a major wave of fab construction across Arizona, Texas, Ohio, and New York. TSMC, Intel, Samsung, and Micron are hiring tens of thousands of technicians and engineers. Cleanroom training and electrical aptitude are core requirements.
Battery and EV Manufacturing
Battery plants in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Michigan are ramping up. Automotive OEMs and battery cell suppliers (LG, Panasonic, SK On) are hiring production operators, maintenance technicians, and process engineers in volume.
Aerospace and Defense
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, RTX, and tier-one suppliers continue hiring across the country. Strong demand for CNC machinists, composite technicians, welders with aerospace certifications, and quality inspectors familiar with AS9100 standards.
Food and Beverage Processing
Largest manufacturing employer by headcount. Production operator and machine operator roles dominate. Lower entry barriers and pay than other sectors, but stable employment and clear progression paths through plant supervisor and quality roles.
Medical Devices and Pharma
FDA-regulated environments with strict quality requirements. Cleanroom production, assembly, and quality inspection roles. Pay premium for experience in GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) environments. Concentrated in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Minnesota, Indiana, and California.
Industrial Machinery
Heavy equipment, agricultural machinery, and industrial automation OEMs (Caterpillar, John Deere, Rockwell Automation). Strong demand for skilled welders, CNC machinists, and assembly technicians. Concentrated in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Carolinas.
Five Shift Patterns That Define Manufacturing Work
The shift you work in manufacturing affects pay, family life, and physical health more than almost any other variable. Most workers do not realize how much shift selection matters until they have done multiple. Here are the five patterns you will encounter and what each one trades off.
First Shift (Day)
6:00 AM to 2:00 PM or 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The default shift at most facilities. Highest competition for positions because of the traditional schedule. Base pay rate with no shift differential. Best for workers with children in school or other daytime commitments.
Second Shift (Swing)
2:00 PM to 10:00 PM or 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Common at facilities running two or three shifts. Easier to get hired than first shift. Suits workers who want mornings free for appointments, school, or family. Modest pay premium over first shift.
Third Shift (Night)
10:00 PM to 6:00 AM or 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM
The most physically demanding shift due to sleep disruption. Usually pays the highest differential. Easier to get hired because fewer workers want night work. Some workers stay on nights for years because they prefer the quieter environment and pay bump.
Pitman Schedule (2-2-3)
12-hour shifts, alternating days and nights
Used by continuous-operation plants. You work 2 days on, 2 off, 3 on, then flip. Results in every other weekend completely off. Brutal physically but loved by workers who value extended time off.
Weekend Shift (Baylor)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 12 hours each
Three 12-hour shifts over the weekend at full-time pay (36 hours paid as 40). Mon-Thu off entirely. Hugely popular with workers in school, with second jobs, or balancing childcare. Limited availability at most facilities.
Manufacturing Certifications That Pay Off
Unlike most fields, manufacturing certifications translate directly into hourly wage increases that are easy to quantify. Pursuing the right credential at the right career stage can add several dollars per hour. Most are achievable in 6 to 18 months while working, and many are fully reimbursed by employers.
OSHA 10 or OSHA 30
Workplace safety fundamentals
Forklift Certification
Operate industrial powered trucks safely
AWS Certified Welder
Validates welding skill in specific processes
CNC Operator Certificate
Operate computer-controlled machine tools
NIMS Machining Credentials
Industry-recognized machinist competencies
Six Sigma (Yellow, Green, Black Belt)
Process improvement and quality methodology
PLC Programming Certificate
Program industrial automation controllers
From Production Floor to Six Figures: The Real Path
Manufacturing is one of the few remaining career fields where you can start without a degree and reach six-figure earnings within 10 years. The path is well established but rarely explained clearly. Here are the five steps that consistently work.
Entry as Production Operator
Apply directly to any production facility with no prior experience. Most employers train on the job. Focus on building reliability, learning the equipment, and observing which skilled trades match your interests.
Use Tuition Assistance to Earn a Trade Certificate
Most manufacturers reimburse community college tuition for production workers (80 to 100 percent). Pursue a CNC, welding, or industrial maintenance certificate while working full-time. This typically takes 1 to 2 years.
Move into a Skilled Trade Role
Once certified, transition internally into a skilled trade position. Internal transfers happen faster than external hiring because the company already knows your work ethic. Expect a pay increase of $4 to $10 per hour at this step.
Specialize and Build Senior Skills
Spend 3 to 5 years deepening expertise. CNC machinists move to programming or 5-axis work. Maintenance technicians add PLC programming. Welders pursue certifications in aerospace or pressure vessel work. Each specialization adds significant pay.
Advance to Lead, Supervisor, or Engineering
Three common paths: become a shift lead or supervisor (people management), move into manufacturing engineering (requires Associate or Bachelor degree, often employer-funded), or become a maintenance lead/reliability engineer for senior technical roles.
A First Shift in a Production Facility, Hour by Hour
Manufacturing shifts have a structured rhythm that is very different from office work. Below is a typical first shift for a production operator at a mid-sized facility. The exact tasks vary by industry, but the structure (handover, run cycles, breaks, handover) is consistent across most plants.
5:45 AM
Arrive early, change into PPE (steel-toe boots, safety glasses, hearing protection)
6:00 AM
Shift handover meeting: outgoing shift briefs on machine status and issues
6:15 AM
Pre-shift safety walkthrough and machine inspection
6:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Run production cycles, monitor quality, log output every hour
9:30 AM to 9:45 AM
First 15-minute break
9:45 AM to 11:30 AM
Continue production, handle a brief tooling changeover
11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Lunch break (30 minutes, often in plant cafeteria or break room)
12:00 PM to 1:45 PM
Afternoon production, quality samples sent to lab
1:45 PM to 2:00 PM
Final break, prep for shift handover
2:00 PM
Handover to second shift, document final production numbers, clean workstation
Four Questions That Reveal a Good Manufacturing Employer
The gap between a good manufacturing employer and a bad one is enormous, and you cannot tell from the job posting. Both will pay similar wages and offer similar benefits. The differences show up in equipment quality, advancement opportunity, and how they actually treat production workers. These four questions surface the truth fast.
How Old is the Equipment?
A facility with 30-year-old machines breaking down constantly is a different job than a modern automated plant. Ask about the average age of production equipment and the capital investment plans for the next 2 to 3 years. Companies that reinvest in equipment also tend to reinvest in their workers.
What is the Tuition Assistance Policy?
The single most important benefit for career growth in manufacturing. Companies offering 80 to 100 percent tuition reimbursement for relevant technical programs are signaling commitment to internal advancement. Ask for the specific policy in writing, including any service commitment after completion.
How is Overtime Distributed?
Some facilities mandate overtime constantly, eating into personal time. Others have stable schedules with optional OT. Some pay double-time on Sundays, others pay only time-and-a-half. Ask current employees if you get a chance during the interview process. Overtime culture varies dramatically and affects quality of life.
What Does Internal Promotion Look Like?
Ask how many of the current supervisors started in production roles at the company. A facility where 60 percent of supervisors were promoted internally signals real opportunity. A facility where all supervisors were hired externally signals a glass ceiling for production workers.
The Physical Reality of Manufacturing Work
Manufacturing pays well in part because the work is physically demanding in ways that office jobs are not. Most job postings glossover this reality. Here is what to expect in terms of physical demands so you can evaluate whether the trade-off makes sense for you. These conditions vary by role and sector, but most production environments include several of them.
Modern facilities have made significant safety improvements over the past decade. PPE requirements, ergonomic redesigns, and automation of dangerous tasks have all reduced injury rates. But the work remains physical, and the body adjustments take 30 to 60 days for new workers entering the field.
The Benefits Landscape: What Manufacturing Really Offers
Manufacturing benefits tend to be stronger than retail or hospitality at the same wage level, which significantly affects total compensation. The headline hourly rate often understates what you actually take home in real value once benefits are factored in.
Health insurance starting fast
Many manufacturers offer health coverage starting day one or after 30 days, with the company covering 70 to 90 percent of the premium. Family coverage typically adds $200 to $500 per month out of pocket.
401(k) with meaningful match
Typical match is 50 percent of contributions up to 6 percent of salary, sometimes higher at union shops and large employers. Vesting periods range from immediate to 5 years cliff vesting.
Tuition reimbursement is real
Most large manufacturers offer $5,000 to $10,000 per year in tuition reimbursement for relevant programs. This is one of the most underused benefits in the field.
Pension plans still exist
Union shops and some legacy manufacturers still offer defined-benefit pension plans, increasingly rare elsewhere in the economy. These can add significant value to long-term compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Manufacturing Jobs
How does shift differential actually affect take-home pay?
Is union or non-union manufacturing better?
What is the difference between a CNC operator and a CNC machinist?
Can I make a career change into manufacturing from another field?
How concerning is the long-term automation trend?
What benefits do most manufacturing employers offer?
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about manufacturing careers in the United States. Pay figures are illustrative and reflect typical ranges reported by industry sources; actual compensation depends on the employer, location, role, shift, and experience level. Certification programs, costs, and pay impacts vary by region and industry sector. Workplace safety standards are set by OSHA at the federal level, with additional state-level requirements in some jurisdictions. Before accepting a position, verify specific terms with the prospective employer. Oh My Job is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or certification bodies mentioned on this page.