Advanced Manufacturing - Career Quest

Ever wondered how the things around you are made — from sneakers to smartphones to cars? The Advanced Manufacturing career path is where creativity meets cutting-edge technology. You’ll work with robotics, automation, and design tools to solve real-world problems and make production faster, smarter, and more sustainable.

From labs to smart factories, you’ll learn how to build, test, and improve the products that keep our world moving. If you like working with your hands, thinking critically, and seeing your ideas come to life, this is the place for you!

Manufacturing in our Region

The Advanced Manufacturing industry has 5 sub-clusters.

Engineering

Engineering is all about creating, improving, and problem-solving. In this sub-cluster, you’ll use science, math, and technology to design products and improve how things are made. Engineers in manufacturing work to boost efficiency, reduce waste, and make production safer and smarter, all while shaping the future of how we build and create. This field includes many types of engineering, like mechanical, electrical, chemical, biopharmaceutical, materials, and industrial. You might work on research and development, prototype new products, or develop cutting-edge systems that change the way industries operate. If you love to figure out how things work and want to make them work even better, engineering could be your path to innovation.

Industrial Machinery

This sub-cluster is all about hands-on technology and precision. Here, you’ll work with advanced tools like CNC machines, 3D printers, and quality-control systems to make sure products are built right, every time. You’ll learn how to set up, operate, maintain, and repair specialized equipment that keeps production lines running safely and efficiently. From fabrication and machining to energy management and repair, this is the field for those who love to work with their hands, master new technology, and see their work come to life.

Production & Automation

This sub-cluster focuses on the hands-on process of making things, smarter and faster. You’ll be part of the action on the production floor, managing automated systems, running assembly lines, and ensuring products meet high quality standards. From robotics and automation to food, beverage, and textile manufacturing, this field is all about keeping production efficient, safe, and reliable. If you like seeing how things are made and want to be part of the team that makes it happen, this is the place for you.

Robotics

Step into the world where technology and creativity move together. In this sub-cluster, you’ll work with cutting-edge robotics and smart manufacturing systems that power the factories of the future. Careers in robotics involve programming, building, and maintaining robotic systems, as well as managing production lines that use automation and mechatronics. If you’re curious about how machines think, move, and work, and you want to help design the next generation of them, robotics is where innovation comes to life.

Safety & Quality Assurance

This sub-cluster is all about keeping people safe and products top-notch. Professionals in this field make sure workplaces run smoothly, sustainably, and safely, protecting workers, the environment, and consumers. You’ll help develop safety standards, inspect products, and test materials to make sure everything meets the highest quality. If you have an eye for detail and care about doing things the right way, this is where you can make a real impact every day.

Hot Jobs in Advanced Manufacturing

Engineering

Industrial Engineers

Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.

Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

Mean Income: $104,100

Mechanical Engineers

Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.

Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

Mean Income: $99,600

Installation, Maintenance & Repair Workers, All Other

All installation, maintenance, and repair workers not listed separately.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $48,600

Electrical Engineers

Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

Mean Income: $109,300

Architectural & Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

Mean Income: $147,700

Industrial Machinery

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $79,500

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $63,900

Machinists

Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $56,000

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other

All installation, maintenance, and repair workers not listed separately.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $48,600

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $45,100

Production & Automation

Team Assemblers

Work as part of a team having responsibility for assembling an entire product or component of a product. Team assemblers can perform all tasks conducted by the team in the assembly process and rotate through all or most of them, rather than being assigned to a specific task on a permanent basis. May participate in making management decisions affecting the work. Includes team leaders who work as part of the team.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $45,100

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $70,600

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $50,100

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent

Mean Income: $55,700