Manufacturing jobs involve creating new products and goods. Manufacturers use raw materials or separate components to build something entirely new. Whether it’s chemical, physical, or mechanical, as long as you are creating a product, you are working in manufacturing. The only exception is construction, which is considered separate from manufacturing. Manufacturing jobs include making prepackaged food or beverages, creating computers and electronics, and producing clothing. Bakers, printers, tailors, furniture builders, and woodworkers are all considered manufacturers. Most manufacturers work in a factory, mill, or plant, but you can also find work in labs.

The skills and experience needed to become a manufacturer can vary based on what you are manufacturing. Regardless of the job, you should have strong critical thinking skills, as manufacturers often use logic and critical thinking on the job. It is also necessary to have some math, science, or engineering experience for more advanced positions. You also need excellent problem-solving skills, as problems can frequently arise on the job. Manufacturing is increasingly becoming an international field, so language skills can be beneficial. Some specific types of manufacturing, like baking or tailoring clothes, require unique qualifications. There are also entry-level positions on assembly lines that do not have strict qualifications.

High Paying Manufacturing Jobs

List of the top 10 highest paying Manufacturing positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

Circuit Designer
Salary range: $212,500 - $213,000
A circuit designer creates circuit boards for a variety of uses, from power grids to assembly automation. Specific job duties vary, depending on the type of devices, tools, or systems with which you work. As a circuit designer, your responsibilities include following project specifications to develop or improve circuits or circuit boards, troubleshooting the new circuit board, and implementing the new design. You may also run simulation software to test your circuit design to ensure it meets the needs of your client.
Die Cast Engineer
Salary range: $90,000 - $185,000
A die cast engineer works on the entire life cycle of die casting for a company. Your responsibilities in this career include the establishing the development process and the manufacturing parameters for die components, troubleshooting quality issues, making corrective measures, guiding designers to create castings, documenting production cost, and maintaining the casting equipment. Your duties also include working with the tooling engineer to build slide layouts, internal cooling systems, air evacuation systems, and parting lines for the die. As the die cast engineer, you also document the metal melting and cleaning process.
Lean Consultant
Salary range: $147,500 - $182,500
Lean consultants help business clients cut down on waste and improve efficiency. You find lean consultants in a variety of industries. To determine the current condition of their client, they observe daily operations and management styles, assess company financial records, and work with administrators to identify the company’s objectives. Once they have a clear picture of the how the business is run and its long-term goals, the lean consultant makes recommendations and develops programs to improve overall processes and cut costs. Aspiring lean consultants should gain extensive experience in the specific business industry they would like to work in.
Electrical Power Engineer
Salary range: $84,000 - $175,000
An electrical power engineer is responsible for power system management. As an electrical power engineer, your job is to ensure the efficient functionality of the electrical power grid. Your duties include designing components for the grid, such as generators, transformers, circuit breakers, and transmission lines. You ensure that power stations distribute power to customers efficiently, and manage different types of power systems, such as alternating and direct current. A career as an electrical power engineer requires formal qualifications and education: at least a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, state licensure, and experience with power systems.
Principal Electrical Engineer
Salary range: $139,000 - $170,000
A principal electrical engineer serves as a project manager for electrical-related building or construction projects. In this role, your job duties may include designing electrical devices, ensuring proper installation, inspecting completed electrical work, and providing work estimates. You may also supervise a staff of junior engineers, overseeing their work, and ensure that the project is completed within the allotted timeframe and budget. Principal electrical engineers are often the liaison between the engineering team and upper management. You must create reports and communicate regular updates on the status of each project to ensure each stage is meeting deadline expectations.
Principal Process Engineer
Salary range: $130,000 - $169,500
A principal process engineer works with a team to analyze the efficiency of company processes and identify potential improvements. In this career, you usually work in a large production or manufacturing facility. You must have excellent technical, organizational, and analytical skills. Your job duties include helping management in the development of schedules, budgets, or guidelines for your department, overseeing other engineers, collaborating to support process solutions, and creating simulations, diagrams, and project plans. You also use engineering computer software to design process plans and review data to calculate constant improvements. Qualifications for a career as a principal process engineer include a bachelor's degree in engineering.
Fpga Engineer
Salary range: $130,000 - $167,000
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are integrated circuits used in a variety of technology hardware that are designed to be programmed after they are manufactured. An FPGA engineer uses Hardware Description Language (HDL) to develop and test the configuration that is programmed into these circuits. They may also be responsible for integrating several FPGAs together to form a more complex working system. Their work results in applications that are useful in a variety of industries and technical settings.
System Safety Engineer
Salary range: $113,000 - $164,500
A system safety engineer helps to develop, refine, and update safety protocols and software that controls a large system and ensures that even if aspects of the system fail, it does not put the entire system at jeopardy. For example, if a subsystem on a spaceship fails, your duties as a system safety engineer are to determine how to make sure that it does not affect other systems or endanger the critical life support systems. Systems safety engineering is essential in a wide range of fields, from civil engineering and aeronautics to software and hardware engineering and power plant systems.
Laser Engineer
Salary range: $64,500 - $161,500
A laser engineer is a type of electrical engineer who specializes in equipment that makes lasers and lasers themselves, sometimes in specialty areas such as advanced optics. As a laser engineer, your job duties include monitoring the laser systems, optimizing the output of the lasers, and researching issues with the performance of the lasers. You may also be required to develop documentation on how to operate and maintain the equipment and train other technicians. To begin a career in this role, you need the same qualifications and skills required of an electrical engineer, as well as experience in the use, operation, and maintenance of laser equipment.
Mixed Signal Design Engineer
Salary range: $95,000 - $158,000
A mixed signal design engineer contributes to the entire life cycle of a mixed signal integrated circuit. Your duties include the design of analog cells, performing verification tasks, validation and simulation of device assembly, the improvement upon an existing block system, and client support and maintenance. You work both independently and in a team environment on interface technology in product specification, device characterization, floor planning, layout supervision, transistor level design, and chip level verification. As part of your responsibilities, you collaborate on technical reports, whitepapers, and user documents.
Electrical Engineering Manager
Salary range: $122,500 - $157,500
As an electrical engineering manager, your job is to manage electrical engineering projects for your company. In this role, you may make hiring decisions, troubleshoot common problems, and give the final approval for the design of an electrical system. This is primarily a management position, but it does require you to know enough about electrical systems to make big decisions. Some details of this job depend on the employer. Large facilities and factories may have dedicated electrical engineering managers, while others may contract you for the duration of a specific job. This position also requires memorizing and enforcing all relevant regulations, including OSHA safety guidelines for working on or near electrical systems.
Drone Pilot
Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000
The primary responsibilities of a drone pilot are to control and maintain an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). You can find drone pilot positions with both the military and other governmental organizations, as well as private companies, such as agricultural operations, film and television production companies, surveyors and mapping specialists, and environmental scientists. As a pilot, you perform a variety of duties, such as flying reconnaissance and taking aerial photography and aerial videography. In the military context, drone pilots operate UAVs which bomb targets from across the world.
PCB Design Engineer
Salary range: $101,500 - $151,500
A printed circuit board design engineer oversees the creation of printed circuit boards (PCB) used in phones, computers, and most other electronic devices. As a PCB design engineer, your responsibilities include designing the layout of the unit to incorporate the appropriate components, making recommendations to improve existing designs, and overseeing the actual manufacturing of these products to ensure they meet industry and company standards. These boards are the backbone of modern-day electronics, acting as the central unit of anything that runs on a microchip or CPU. You must design the board in such a way that it meets the specific needs of each product. While there is no universal education requirement, most employers prefer at least an associate degree in an electronics or computer science related field. Most PCB design engineers work for computer hardware manufacturers, but some general tech companies have in-house design departments.
Plastics Tooling Engineer
Salary range: $79,500 - $148,000
A plastics tooling engineer oversees the design and development of plastic molds or other materials. They often work as part of a team from inception through testing and implementation of new polymers. Other duties involve supervising technicians, budgeting tool cost, and troubleshooting product issues. Many industries employ these engineers, from transportation to the biomedical field. Qualifications to become a plastics tooling engineer may vary, but typically include at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field. Experience with processes such as injection molding is desirable, and many employers prefer candidates proficient in CAM and CAD modeling software.
Director of Plant Operations
Salary range: $76,500 - $145,500
A director of plant operations manages production and daily operations, works closely with the company executives, and ensures the safety of a plant. Your job duties include monitoring performance and accounting for production adjustments and working toward business goals. In this career, you are responsible for clearly communicating across multiple departments. You must show exemplary leadership skills, strategize quickly, and communicate effectively. Companies often require you have certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or a similar methodology. As a manager, you must ensure your team works cohesively, drive a strong focus on safety, and maintain a collective culture within the plant.
Mechanical Engineering Manager
Salary range: $104,000 - $143,500
The responsibilities of a mechanical engineering manager involve overseeing a team of design engineers. In this position, your management duties typically include technical and design operations as well as administrative tasks. You plan a budget, work schedule, and benchmarks and deadlines for each project. You also work with stakeholders and other managers to define objectives for each project. During a project, you use computer-aided design and drafting programs to manage the technical and planning aspects of projects. A manager also works in the field to ensure that building, installation, or manufacturing match their design and technical specifications.
Production Engineer
Salary range: $143,000 - $143,000
A production engineer works in industrial settings to streamline processes and maximize efficiency. As a production engineer, your job duties include analyzing the quality of current procedures and processes, identifying opportunities for improvement, and developing strategies to reduce waste and boost productivity. The role requires strong observational and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to communicate complex, highly technical concepts to non-technical colleagues and company management. You can find production engineer jobs in the manufacturing industry and with government agencies.
Paper Sales Representative
Salary range: $127,500 - $142,500
A paper sales representative sells wholesale paper products and technical solutions to retail outlets, businesses, or other organizations. As a sales representative, your main duties and responsibilities are to identify leads and contact them to discuss your products. You make appointments and visit potential customers to present them with marketing material and literature about your products and negotiate contracts and prices with the customer. You also provide continuing service to existing customers, such as following up to ensure they are satisfied with your products.
Radar Signal Processing Engineer
Salary range: $125,000 - $142,000
As a radar signal processing engineer, your responsibilities involve the development and implementation of radar systems. Additional duties are to research and design new algorithms to improve signal processing. You are responsible for modeling and simulating system performance as well as testing the system. You then analyze test results and provide assessment and resolutions to discrepancies. You work with a team to conduct design review and combine efforts to meet and exceed customer requirements. Another important aspect of this job is to ensure the system is compliant with all regulations.
Electrical Hardware Engineer
Salary range: $95,000 - $141,500
An electrical hardware engineer develops, tests, and adjusts the electrical components for computers and other electronics. Your responsibilities in this career are to design and create electrical systems, troubleshoot issues, make modifications to improve the device, and perform ongoing maintenance and repair. You are also in charge of preparing detailed and accurate documents on the plan, as well as notes on development and testing. Your duties include overseeing the manufacturing process and collaborating with software developers. As an electrical hardware engineer, you work with both analog and digital circuitry and use both design software and physical tools, such as soldering irons and magnifiers.
Plant Manager
Salary range: $91,000 - $140,500
A plant manager works to oversee operations in a factory or other manufacturing plant. Your responsibilities in this career involve all aspects of activities within the facility. You work to set production schedules and ensure productivity. A plant manager also helps define and enforce policies and procedures related to conduct, efficiency, and safety. Your duties may include hiring and training supervisory staff. You work to motivate workers and supervisors to meet production goals, and you typically report to a general manager and company executives.
Senior Electrical Engineer
Salary range: $107,500 - $140,000
A senior electrical engineer can work in a variety of industries that deal with both large and small-scale electrical systems, including HVAC, power generation and transmission, telecommunications, renewable energy, lighting, electric components in housing, mobile networking, finance, and more. In this career, you are responsible for the design of systems and controls for electronics and electrical systems. You create specifications and drawings for new systems and are often involved with coordinating junior or graduate engineers to assist on specific parts of projects to meet deadlines. As a senior electrical engineer, you use your skills to create systems that help to process information or transmit energy on every scale.
Radio Frequency Engineer
Salary range: $97,500 - $139,000
As a radio frequency engineer (RF engineer), you install and maintain devices that transmit and receive radio waves. You may select which type of device to install in a given area, help design wireless networks, and provide technical support for existing systems. Radio frequency engineering is a specialized focus of electrical engineering and uses many of the same techniques and principles, so some engineers switch between the two fields as necessary for each job. Other details of this position depend on the employer. For example, installing radio devices for the military often involves getting a security clearance and maintaining heavily-secured transmission systems, while urban jobs may require finding ways to filter out excess noise and problems in each frequency.
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Salary range: $104,500 - $138,000
A senior mechanical engineer manages the research and manufacturing of mechanical devices and systems. Day to day responsibilities of a senior mechanical engineer include estimating manufacturing project costs and timelines, making recommendations on system efficiencies and safety, and performing general engineering duties such as the development and testing of machines. A senior mechanical engineer job is a leadership position and requires managerial experience and excellent communication skills.
Installation Engineer
Salary range: $71,500 - $138,000
An installation engineer sets up and establishes computer systems or equipment for an organization. The job duties for installation engineers vary, depending on the industry of your employer. For example, positions that set up wide-scale computer networks require IT experience. Manufacturing firms need installation engineers familiar with the workings of industrial equipment and machinery. Installation engineers are also responsible for troubleshooting problems with the systems and may provide customer service to the client when issues arise.

All Jobs Manufacturing Jobs 25 Highest Paying Manufacturing Jobs in 2026