NC Career Outlook: Manufacturing career cluster


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Manufacturing career cluster

occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Radio Mechanics	49-2021.00	R	1,2 year	*	*	$28,920	$40,210
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners	49-9063.00	RA	long OJT	*	*	$29,210	$36,940
Watch Repairers	49-9064.00	R	long OJT	*	*	$27,550	$44,100
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers	51-2011.00	R	long OJT	*	*	$28,900	$39,520
Timing Device Assemblers, Adjusters, and Calibrators	51-2093.00	RC	mod. OJT	*	*	*	*
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic	51-4062.00	R	mod. OJT	*	*	$21,220	$28,670
Lay-Out Workers, Metal and Plastic	51-4192.00	RC	mod. OJT	*	*	$27,750	$31,980
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders	51-6042.00	R	mod. OJT	*	*	*	*
Semiconductor Processors	51-9141.00	R	Associate	*	*	$24,270	$32,340
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders	51-9193.00	R	mod. OJT	*	*	$17,800	$25,140
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Patternmakers, Wood	51-7032.00	R	long OJT	-7.98	260	$25,250	$29,790
Model Makers, Wood	51-7031.00	R	long OJT	-7.27	250	$22,440	$30,050
Photographic Processing Machine Operators	51-9132.00	R	short OJT	-6.36	1,620	$16,370	$20,620
Upholsterers	51-6093.00	R	long OJT	-5.98	8,290	$23,920	$34,480
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers	51-6092.00	RC	long OJT	-5.91	770	$21,170	$32,890
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-6063.00	R	long OJT	-5.89	9,540	$19,300	$25,440
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-6064.00	R	mod. OJT	-5.38	10,030	$18,480	$22,790
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, all other	51-6099.99	R	short OJT	-5.30	1,350	$16,040	$22,620
Sewing Machine Operators	51-6031.00	R	mod. OJT	-5.00	14,220	$16,040	$23,050
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders	51-6061.00	R	mod. OJT	-4.88	4,770	$19,490	$24,450
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-6062.00	R	mod. OJT	-4.81	2,240	$18,270	$25,810
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Photographic Process Workers	51-9131.00	R	mod. OJT	-4.61	1,000	$14,690	$24,060
Furniture Finishers	51-7021.00	R	long OJT	-4.55	3,560	$21,020	$26,810
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand	51-9031.00	R	short OJT	-3.63	2,290	$19,990	$28,580
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters	51-7011.00	R	long OJT	-3.41	6,380	$20,360	$27,800
Fabric Menders, Except Garment	49-9093.00	R	mod. OJT	-3.39	120	$18,290	$20,370
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	51-2021.00	R	short OJT	-3.24	960	$21,050	$28,680
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers	51-6041.00	R	long OJT	-3.05	590	$17,200	$20,620
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers	51-6091.00	R	mod. OJT	-2.98	1,140	$24,460	$29,940
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers	51-2022.00	R	short OJT	-2.40	6,220	$21,750	$31,180
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4022.00	R	mod. OJT	-2.12	1,150	$23,330	$31,400
Chemical Plant and System Operators	51-8091.00	RC	long OJT	-2.09	1,930	$34,670	$43,200
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Plant and System Operators, all other	51-8099.99	R	long OJT	-2.02	700	*	*
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping	43-5111.00	CR	short OJT	-1.79	3,020	$18,180	$25,320
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-9032.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.78	4,750	$21,070	$29,290
Sewers, Hand	51-6051.00	R	short OJT	-1.77	970	$15,830	$20,830
Machine Feeders and Offbearers	53-7063.00	R	short OJT	-1.74	7,060	$18,360	$26,240
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4032.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.69	820	$21,670	$30,540
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4034.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.63	2,390	$25,890	$33,960
Etchers and Engravers	51-9194.00	R	long OJT	-1.61	710	$20,700	$26,920
Tire Builders	51-9197.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.46	1,580	$17,500	$26,370
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners	51-4194.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.45	710	$23,120	$30,870
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-9121.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.45	5,700	$21,300	$28,160
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-9041.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.44	4,690	$21,370	$30,790
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders	51-9051.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.39	1,470	$22,860	$31,000
Maintenance Workers, Machinery	49-9043.00	R	short OJT	-1.30	3,300	$22,960	$36,250
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4035.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.28	1,080	$20,550	$29,100
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-9021.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.24	1,080	$19,800	$29,410
Power Distributors and Dispatchers	51-8012.00	RC	long OJT	-1.22	100	$42,350	$68,230
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	51-9061.00	RC	mod. OJT	-1.21	20,980	$20,100	$29,840
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing	51-7042.00	R	mod. OJT	-1.05	6,530	$19,290	$25,610
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, all other	51-4199.99	R	mod. OJT	-1.04	240	$21,970	$39,110
Power Plant Operators	51-8013.00	R	long OJT	-0.98	680	$44,850	$56,370
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders	51-9192.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.97	370	$17,600	$22,850
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Cementing and Gluing Machine Operators and Tenders	51-9191.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.93	1,290	$20,550	$27,110
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4072.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.78	6,000	$20,320	$28,670
First-Line Supervisors/ Managers of Production and Operating Workers	51-1011.00	ERC	work exp.	-0.74	27,900	$32,480	$49,830
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-9023.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.72	5,410	$21,890	$31,570
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4033.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.71	2,290	$22,700	$30,200
Industrial Production Managers	11-3051.00	EC	Bachelor	-0.69	6,080	$52,770	$80,040
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers	49-2022.00	R	long OJT	-0.66	4,610	$36,330	$52,710
Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4193.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.66	1,620	$22,940	$30,900
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand	51-9022.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.66	1,570	$19,520	$25,370
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers	49-9061.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.63	80	$28,620	$40,150
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic	51-9195.00	RA	mod. OJT	-0.63	1,350	$17,830	$27,310
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators	51-8011.00	RC	long OJT	-0.44	210	$57,550	$63,480
Numerical Tool and Process Control Programmers	51-4012.00	RCI	long OJT	-0.28	290	$32,880	$42,090
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4021.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.25	3,900	$23,030	$30,310
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	43-5061.00	CE	short OJT	-0.18	7,240	$25,630	$37,450
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers	51-9071.00	R	1,2 year	-0.13	670	$22,800	$34,880
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	51-9011.00	R	mod. OJT	-0.10	2,750	$34,800	$44,960
Helpers--Production Workers	51-9198.00	R	short OJT	-0.10	21,800	$17,130	$22,900
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers	49-2092.00	R	1,2 year	0.04	930	$22,450	$32,660
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic	51-4061.00	R	mod. OJT	0.04	240	$23,070	$33,020
Tool and Die Makers	51-4111.00	R	long OJT	0.10	2,080	$30,680	$40,780
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	51-9111.00	R	short OJT	0.10	18,520	$17,300	$29,140
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Home Appliance Repairers	49-9031.00	R	long OJT	0.24	1,750	$24,650	$32,490
Foundry Mold and Coremakers	51-4071.00	R	mod. OJT	0.25	120	$22,480	$32,100
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-9196.00	R	mod. OJT	0.28	3,600	$22,440	$32,010
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers	51-2031.00	R	short OJT	0.33	1,000	$23,850	$37,280
Woodworkers, all other	51-7099.99	R	mod. OJT	0.35	340	*	*
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products	13-1023.00	EC	work exp.	0.38	7,920	$35,700	$53,270
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	29-9012.00	*	1,2 year	0.40	220	$30,790	$45,640
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	49-9041.00	R	long OJT	0.41	8,870	$27,790	$40,170
Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers	51-2023.00	R	short OJT	0.43	2,650	$22,490	$30,310
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4191.00	R	mod. OJT	0.44	650	$24,410	$33,390
Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers	49-9091.00	R	mod. OJT	0.45	1,230	$21,490	$31,460
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4031.00	R	mod. OJT	0.47	7,830	$17,490	$26,050
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers	49-2011.00	RC	1,2 year	0.52	6,100	$26,420	$37,730
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers	51-9123.00	R	short OJT	0.53	1,310	$17,690	$23,690
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4023.00	R	mod. OJT	0.60	900	$21,130	$29,780
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	49-2094.00	R	1,2 year	0.70	3,030	$33,540	$45,910
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders	51-4051.00	R	mod. OJT	0.72	280	$28,820	$44,370
Team Assemblers	51-2092.00	R	mod. OJT	0.79	60,050	$17,770	$26,320
Production Workers, all other	51-9199.99	*	mod. OJT	0.85	2,850	$19,130	$29,690
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	49-9042.00	R	mod. OJT	0.92	45,180	$23,550	$34,480
Assemblers and Fabricators, all other	51-2099.99	R	mod. OJT	1.06	5,020	$17,640	$33,880
Painters, Transportation Equipment	51-9122.00	R	mod. OJT	1.09	1,450	$26,200	$39,250
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
First-Line Supervisors/ Managers of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers	49-1011.00	ERC	work exp.	1.16	18,150	$38,400	$55,900
Mechanical Engineering Technicians	17-3027.00	RI	Associate	1.17	1,020	$34,580	$53,520
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	29-9011.00	SEI	Bachelor	1.18	1,120	$41,660	$57,730
Machinists	51-4041.00	RI	long OJT	1.33	12,240	$23,440	$34,870
Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers	49-2097.00	R	1,2 year	1.34	1,370	$22,240	$30,310
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic	51-4011.00	R	mod. OJT	1.34	4,480	$24,800	$32,850
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-4122.00	R	mod. OJT	1.40	1,400	$25,680	$31,330
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	51-9012.00	R	mod. OJT	1.43	1,920	$32,000	$42,950
Industrial Engineering Technicians	17-3026.00	IC	Associate	1.47	2,050	$34,510	$49,570
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics	49-3053.00	R	mod. OJT	1.50	1,440	$22,570	$29,030
Medical Appliance Technicians	51-9082.00	RI	long OJT	1.57	380	$27,720	$41,330
occupation	SOC code	interests	minimum education	growth outlook	current workers	salary entry	salary all
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators	51-2091.00	R	mod. OJT	1.70	1,400	$20,190	$27,090
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	51-4121.00	R	long OJT	1.71	9,100	$25,740	$34,070
Pourers and Casters, Metal	51-4052.00	R	mod. OJT	1.73	360	$20,380	$37,770
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, all other	49-9069.99	R	long OJT	1.82	490	$33,810	$51,390
Material Moving Workers, all other	53-7199.99	R	mod. OJT	1.90	340	$14,970	$21,460
Millwrights	49-9044.00	R	long OJT	1.91	1,560	$28,350	$37,600
Boilermakers	47-2011.00	R	long OJT	2.25	250	$31,550	$42,760
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers	49-9094.00	R	mod. OJT	2.25	710	$20,340	$30,040
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	51-4081.00	R	mod. OJT	2.36	3,240	$23,400	$30,570
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers	49-2098.00	R	1,2 year	2.41	1,800	$27,120	$36,920
Medical Equipment Repairers	49-9062.00	R	Associate	2.50	550	$32,660	$47,330

* data not available

SOC Codes

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system classifies all careers and assigns a unique number to each. This SOC number can be used to follow up with other career databases.

Interests

Interests are the likes and dislikes of people who work in each career. Matching your interests can help you find a career that will be more satisfying and rewarding for you than occupations that do not meet your interests. Knowing your work interests can help you decide what kinds of jobs and careers you want to explore.

People and work environments can be classified into these six different groups:

Realistic - "Doers" - People who have athletic or mechanical ability, prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants or animals, or to be outdoors.
Investigative - "Thinkers" - People who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze, evaluate or solve problems.
Artistic - "Creators" - People who have artistic, innovating or intuitional abilities and like to work in unstructured situations using their imagination and creativity.
Social - "Helpers" - People who like to work with people to enlighten, inform, help, train, or cure them, or are skilled with words.
Enterprising - "Persuaders" - People who like to work with people, influencing, persuading, performing, leading or managing for organizational goals or economic gain.
Conventional - "Organizers" - People who like to work with data, have clerical or numerical ability, carry out tasks in detail or follow through on others' instructions.

Take an Interest Assessment to discover your interests.

Minimum Postsecondary Education Required

Minimum education is the usual minimum level of postsecondary (after high school) education required for each career.

Some careers have on-the-job training (OJT), which means that you go straight to the job and learn while you work.

short OJT - Short on-the-job training (less than one month)
mod. OJT - Moderate on-the-job training (1 to 12 months)
long OJT - Long on-the-job training (more than one year). Long OJT usually includes community college or trade school courses.

Some careers require further education after high school before starting the career.

1,2 year - One- or two-year program at a trade school or community college
Associate - Associate's degree - two-year degree program at a community college
Bachelor - Bachelor's degree - four-year degree program at a college or university
Bach+work - Bachelor's degree plus related work experience
Master - Master's degree - two or more years after Bachelor's degree
Doctorate - Doctorate degree - three or more years after Bachelor's degree
Profess. - Professional degree - three or more years after Bachelor's degree
work exp. - Work experience in a related occupation

Growth Outlook

Growth outlook is the projected growth of the number of career openings per year in North Carolina from 2006 to 2016. High growth means that the number of openings are increasing, so the likelihood of getting a job in this career is good. Low growth means that there may not be any openings, so the likelihood of getting a job in this career is not very good.

low - (red color) - below average projected growth rate (less than 1% growth per year)
moderate - (green color) - average projected growth rate (between 1 and 2.1% growth per year)
high - (blue color) - above average projected growth rate (over 2.1% growth per year)

White background indicates that growth outlook information is not available.

Number of Current Workers in NC

Current workers (2006 data) is the number of people in North Carolina who are full-time and part-time employees, workers on paid vacation or other type of paid leave, workers assigned temporarily to other units and paid owners, officers and staff of incorporated firms. This excludes proprietors, owners and partners of unincorporated firms, unpaid family workers, workers on unpaid leave and contractors and temporary agency employees not on the company payroll.

Entry-Level NC Salaries

Salary entry is the average salary for all entry-level (first-year) workers in this career in North Carolina. The entry wage is the mean of the first third of the wage distribution from the 2008 Occupational Employment Statistics combined wage file.

Salary includes straight time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate, cost-of-living allowances, tips, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay, commissions, production bonuses and on-call pay are included. Excluded is back pay, jury duty pay, overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and tuition reimbursements.

Average NC Salaries

Salary all is the average salary for all workers in this career in North Carolina. Data were prepared from the 2008 Occupational Employment Statistics combined wage file.

The data come from multiple data tables from the NC Employment Security Commission - Labor Market Information. Blanks in this table represent missing data, some due to confidentiality because of small numbers of workers in an occupation.

Database updated 09/02/09

Comments, suggestions, and corrections are welcome. WebGuy -at- NcCareerOutlook.com.

Brought to you by the School-to-Work/Careers Section of the Association for Career and Technical Education