Manufacturing Engineers
Overview
Introduction
Manufacturing engineers use scientific knowledge and tools to design, integrate, and improve manufacturing products and systems. They work closely with manufacturing designers to fine-tune designs to increase productivity while reducing costs. The Department of Labor reports that there are approximately 142,030 engineers, all others not listed separately, employed in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Manufacturing engineers employed in the United States in January 2020 earned a median annual salary of $67,679, according to Salary.com. Salaries ranged from $55,641 to $77,207 or more. Engineers, all others not listed separately, averaged $96,980 per year in May 2018; the lowest 10 percent earned $50,750 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $155,650 or more, according to the Department of La...
Work Environment
Manufacturing engineers generally work indoors at manufacturing facilities, factories, industrial plants, laboratories, or offices. They usually work full-time hours, which are 40 hours per week. They work longer hours, however, when project deadlines must be met. They travel at times to observe manufacturing processes, such as the parts assembly process at factories, so they can take notes and...
Outlook
Engineers will have good employment opportunities in the coming years. According to the Department of Labor, industrial engineers can expect faster than average employment growth through 2028. Engineers, all others not listed separately, will have average employment growth in that same time frame. Manufacturing engineers who are knowledgeable about the latest technologies for automating product...