10 of the Most Popular Types of Manufacturing Technology Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Manufacturing Technology jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Manufacturing Technology Jobs

• Advanced Manufacturing

  Salary range: $77,000 - $117,500

  Advanced Manufacturing is a common job search query. Most salaries for Advanced Manufacturing jobs pay between $77,000 (25th percentile) and $117,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Advanced Manufacturing job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Manufacturing Engineer

  Salary range: $73,000 - $94,000

  A manufacturing engineer is a specialized engineer who improves product manufacturing processes. As a manufacturing engineer, your primary duties are to design and develop production systems and improve the tools and systems within the manufacturing process. You will use computer software such as CAD to create, modify, and test the products and manufacturing processes.

• Machinist

  Salary range: $43,500 - $59,500

  A machinist is someone who uses heavy equipment to cut machinery parts made of different materials including steel, silicon, aluminum, and plastic. Machinist work takes a great amount of focus and precision. Machinists must be able to read mechanical blueprints, make calculations, determine machine speed, and perform precise cuts to create tools, fixtures, building materials, and other products. In addition to creating products based on preset specifications, machinists must also maintain their machines to ensure they cut properly and safely. This means keeping them properly lubricated and regulating their temperature. In many cases, machinists must have a working knowledge of computers which may help them determine cutting patterns and paths.

• Contract Manufacturing

  Salary range: $78,000 - $120,500

  Contract Manufacturing is a typical job search query Most salaries for Contract Manufacturing jobs pay between $78,000 (25th percentile) and $120,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Contract Manufacturing job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• No Experience Manufacturing

  Salary range: $31,500 - $43,500

  No Experience Manufacturing is a common job search query. Most salaries for No Experience Manufacturing jobs pay between $31,500 (25th percentile) and $43,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for No Experience Manufacturing job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Manufacturing

  Salary range: $42,000 - $60,000

  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.

• Additive Manufacturing

  Salary range: $42,000 - $60,000

  Additive manufacturing (AM) is the process of creating products by adding material using one or more techniques. This is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing, which produces products by removing material. Many products are produced using a combination of these two techniques. To manufacture a plastic shape, you may use additive manufacturing to layer plastic materials then use subtractive manufacturing to cut and shape the plastic. In recent years, AM has started to focus on advanced techniques like 3D printing, where complex products are created layer by layer, using one or more materials. The main job in AM is that of an additive manufacturing engineer, although rapid prototyping may utilize this process to create a small model of a potential product.

• Automation

  Salary range: $91,500 - $139,000

  Automation is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Automation jobs pay between $91,500 (25th percentile) and $139,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Automation job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Manufacturing Engineering Technologist

  Salary range: $90,000 - $90,000

  A manufacturing engineering technologist develops tools, designs and implements manufacturing processes, and combines the use of computer applications with machinery and equipment to optimize the manufacturing of products. As a manufacturing engineering technologist, your duties are to program computer-aided design (CAD) applications, calibrate computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) machinery, and create plans and schedules for manufacturing production tasks. Your responsibilities include monitoring manufacturing processes, identifying strategies for cost reduction and productivity improvement, enforcing safety practices, and recommending steps for improved product reliability and quality.

• Work From Home Cnc Laser Programmer

  Salary range: $53,000 - $72,500

  Work From Home Cnc Laser Programmer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Work From Home Cnc Laser Programmer jobs pay between $53,000 (25th percentile) and $72,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Work From Home Cnc Laser Programmer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.