Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Employment in production occupations is projected to decline 4 percent, with a loss of about 423,200 jobs from 2019 to 2029. Technological advancements are expected to continue to replace many of the manufacturing workers that make up a large share of the production occupations. Fewer workers are expected to be needed in the manufacturing sector as many processes have become computer-controlled.
Pay
According to BLS, the median annual wage for production occupations was $37,440 in May 2020, which was lower than the median annual wage for all occupations of $41,950.
Here are some occupations within Manufacturing and Production:
- Assemblers and Fabricators
- Bakers
- Butchers
- Dental and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians and Medical Appliance Technicians
- Food and Tobacco Processing Workers
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
- Machinists and Tool and Die Makers
- Metal and Plastic Machine Workers
- Painting and Coating Workers
- Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers
- Quality Control Inspectors
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
- Woodworkers
