Almost everything you own, from your phone to your sneakers to your breakfast cereal, was made in a factory by people who run machines, program robots, check quality and keep the line moving. Modern plants are full of computers, lasers and 3D printers, and many jobs start with a high-school diploma or a short program and pay you to learn. The best workers often move up into engineering, management or running their own shop.
16 fields, 362 careers
Advanced Manufacturing & Automation(18): The high-tech side of making things: robots, smart sensors, automated lines and the software that ties a 'smart factory' together.
Machining & CNC(24): Cutting metal and plastic into precise parts using lathes, mills and computer-controlled machines; the backbone of every engine, airplane…
Metalworking, Welding & Fabrication(33): Melting, pouring, forging, cutting, bending and welding metal: the hot, loud, satisfying work behind every bridge, truck and tractor.
3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing(16): Building objects layer by layer instead of cutting them out, from plastic prototypes to titanium rocket parts, dental crowns, concrete…
Semiconductor Fabrication(18): Making computer chips in ultra-clean factories called fabs, where people in 'bunny suits' build circuits only a few atoms wide.
Chemical, Pharmaceutical & Cosmetics Production(19): Making medicines, chemicals, fuels, paints, perfumes and cosmetics by mixing, reacting and purifying ingredients in carefully controlled…
Food & Beverage Production(27): Turning crops, milk, meat and grains into the food and drinks on store shelves, from giant cereal plants to craft breweries, wineries and…
Textiles, Apparel & Footwear(27): The world of fabric, clothing and shoes: inventing new fibers, designing and fitting garments, and running the mills and sewing floors…
Wood, Furniture & Millwork(24): From logs to lumber to the chair you're sitting on: sawmills, cabinet shops, furniture factories, barrel makers and the scientists…
Printing, Packaging & Materials(28): The people who print the labels and boxes on everything you buy, design clever packaging, and make the paper, plastic and rubber that…
Glass, Ceramics & Building Materials(16): Making the glass, cement, concrete, brick, tile and fiber optics that every building, phone screen and internet cable depends on, using…
Artisan & Specialty Production(24): Small-batch and handmade production: the craftspeople who make jewelry, watches, glass, instruments, artificial eyes, coins, signs and…
Industrial Maintenance & Repair(23): The people who keep factories running: fixing, aligning and predicting failures in the machines, power and cooling systems behind every…
Quality Control & Assurance(21): The people who make sure every product is safe and made right: inspectors, testers, measurement experts and the engineers and regulatory…
Plant & Production Management(22): Running the factory itself: plant managers, supervisors, planners, buyers, safety and improvement pros, and the floor jobs that keep…
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.