What Do Manufacturing Engineer Do?
Manufacturing Engineer Definition Design, integrate, or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. May work with commercial or industrial designers to refine product designs to increase producibility and decrease costs.
Manufacturing Engineer Responsibilities
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, participate in educational programs, attend meetings, attend workshops, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the manufacturing field.
- Redesign packaging for manufactured products to minimize raw material use or waste.
- Design tests of finished products or process capabilities to establish standards or validate process requirements.
- Investigate or resolve operational problems, such as material use variances or bottlenecks.
- Incorporate new manufacturing methods or processes to improve existing operations.
- Train production personnel in new or existing methods.
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Manufacturing Engineer Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Manufacturing Engineers say are important on the job.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Foundry Process Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineer
- Manufacturing Systems Engineer
- Methods Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 132,500 jobs for Manufacturing Engineer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,500 new jobs for Manufacturing Engineer by 2026. The BLS estimates 9,500 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Manufacturing Engineer are Nevada, Utah, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Minnesota, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Manufacturing Engineer
The salary for Manufacturing Engineers ranges between about $50,750 and $155,650 a year.

Manufacturing Engineers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Manufacturing Engineers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $115,710 |
Alaska | $114,040 |
Arizona | $94,450 |
Arkansas | $71,510 |
California | $107,700 |
Colorado | $111,610 |
Connecticut | $100,230 |
District of Columbia | $132,530 |
Florida | $82,970 |
Georgia | $93,580 |
Hawaii | $96,940 |
Idaho | $110,270 |
Illinois | $87,220 |
Indiana | $73,340 |
Iowa | $78,230 |
Kansas | $82,060 |
Kentucky | $79,690 |
Louisiana | $90,580 |
Maine | $85,800 |
Maryland | $118,420 |
Massachusetts | $109,220 |
Michigan | $90,420 |
Minnesota | $101,620 |
Mississippi | $79,630 |
Missouri | $86,850 |
Montana | $79,590 |
Nebraska | $82,760 |
Nevada | $94,950 |
New Hampshire | $99,070 |
New Jersey | $114,990 |
New Mexico | $114,790 |
New York | $95,270 |
North Carolina | $83,900 |
North Dakota | $83,270 |
Ohio | $93,370 |
Oklahoma | $83,080 |
Oregon | $90,720 |
Pennsylvania | $96,550 |
Rhode Island | $95,790 |
South Carolina | $100,750 |
South Dakota | $84,320 |
Tennessee | $82,030 |
Texas | $113,370 |
Utah | $89,810 |
Vermont | $81,960 |
Virginia | $118,390 |
Washington | $104,890 |
West Virginia | $91,420 |
Wisconsin | $86,600 |
Wyoming | $97,040 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Manufacturing Engineers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Manufacturing Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- FileMaker Pro
- R
- Minitab
- National Instruments LabVIEW
How do I Become a Manufacturing Engineer?
Individuals working as a Manufacturing Engineer have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Manufacturing Engineers Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Manufacturing Engineers employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Manufacturing Engineer may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: luis gomes via CC0 License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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