Manufacturing
Career Spotlight: Manufacturing
Meet a Welder Mechanic and a Lab Analyst
Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties in Manistee, Michigan manufactures magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide for use in a variety of environmental, industrial, and chemical applications. Plant operators say their employees need higher skill levels than they did in the past. Watch the video to learn more about the skills workers need for today's manufacturing jobs.
Annual Pay in Manufacturing Jobs in Northwest Michigan
| Area | # Employed | Annual Average Earnings |
| Antrim | 1,092 | $50,957 |
| Cadillac MicroSA | 4,174 | $44,368 |
| Emmet | 2,531 | $61,658 |
| Manistee | 1,146 | $50,977 |
| Traverse City MicroSA | 6,539 | $49,258 |
| Region | 16,429 | $51,044 |
Source: 2008 Manufacturing, Regional Economic Information System, U. S. Dept of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
Job Outlook in Northwest Michigan
The manufacturing industry has gone through a lot of changes in the past 10-20 years but there are still manufacturing jobs available in northern Michigan. However, those jobs have changed and require higher skill levels than they have in the past. Workers need math, science, and communication skills, along with the ability to adapt to changes in technology.
"The days of coming in to work and one man doing a single, repetitive job are gone," said Jim Reithel, the Vice President of Chemical Operations at Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties in Manistee. "They come in today and use reasoning and logic to make good decisions. They multi-task and do a variety of different things every day."
Please refer to: Career Skills for the New Economy
Manufacturing Jobs List
Here's a partial listing of occupations that are part of the manufacturing industry. For a more complete list and data, you may wish to view: O-Net Online for national data, or click for:
Manufacturing in Northwest Lower Michigan by Occupation and Percent Distribution 2008. (PDF)
|
Manufacturing Engineers |
Manufacturing Engineering Technologists |
| Manufacturing Production Technicians | Electrical Engineers |
| Industrial Engineers | Industrial Production Managers |
| Industrial Engineering Technicians | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers |
|
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing |
Materials Engineers |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | Sales Representatives |
| Mechanical Engineers | Semiconductor Processors |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | Mechanical Engineering Technicians |
|
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers |
| Potters, Manufacturing | Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders |
|
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks |
Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers |
| Mechanical Drafters | Boilermakers |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | Team Assemblers |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Industrial Engineering Technologists |
|
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers |
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders |
|
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
|
Cementing and Gluing Machine Operators and Tenders |
Helpers--Production Workers |
|
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand |
Chemical Engineers |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| Millwrights | Numerical Tool and Process Control Programmers |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal, Plastic | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| Bindery Workers | Prepress Technicians and Workers |
|
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
|
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders |
|
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
Engineering Managers |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | Bakers |
|
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders |
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
|
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| Printing Machine Operators | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers |
|
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| Timing Device Assemblers, Adjusters, and Calibrators | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal, Plastic |
|
Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing |
General and Operations Managers |
| Photonics Technicians | Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary |
| File Clerks | First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers |
| Assemblers and Fabricators | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal, Plastic | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
|
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials |
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| Production Workers | First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Handlers |
|
Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers |
Computer Hardware Engineers |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | Food Batchmakers |
| Biochemical Engineers | Riggers |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | Model Makers, Metal and Plastic |
| Aerospace Engineers | Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products |
| Cost Estimators | Security Management Specialists |
| Microsystems Engineers | Agricultural Engineers |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | Managers, All Other |
| Electronics Engineering Technicians | Electronic Drafters |
| Machinists | Cutters and Trimmers, Hand |
| Nuclear Engineers | Electrical Engineering Technicians |
| Physicists | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers |
|
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers |
