Careers in the manufacturing cluster involve making products, such as food, cars, and household goods. Nearly all of the production occupations, many of the installation, maintenance, and repair occupations, and some of the architecture and engineering occupations in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) are assigned to this cluster.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted about 11.8 million jobs in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOH) occupations that are assigned to the manufacturing cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $21,490 for sewing machine operators to $78,350 for nuclear power reactor operators.

Most occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, although specific designations range from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for occupations such as production worker helpers to an associate’s degree and long-term on-the-job training for camera and photographic equipment repairers.

BLS projects more than half of job openings in the manufacturing cluster to be in occupations assigned to the production pathway. However, the occupation expected to have the largest number of job openings is in the maintenance, installation, and repair pathway: general maintenance and repair workers.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Kansas City region is at the forefront of a renaissance in American manufacturing. The KC region’s manufacturing industry is expected to grow by more than 7 percent by 2024, despite an almost 7 percent decrease nationwide. This regional activity is highlighted by over $1.5 billion in new investments by legacy American automakers Ford Motor Company and General Motors.

Source: Kansas City Area Development Council

Global Business & Logistics

Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing

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