Manufacturing Engineers

Job opportunities in all engineering occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The employment outlook for manufacturing engineers varies by their specialty and their manufacturing sector. For example, employment of aerospace engineers in manufacturing is expected to increase by 2.7 percent (about as fast as the average), but job opportunities vary by specialty. Employment for aerospace engineers in semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing is expected to grow by 14 percent (much faster than the average) through 2023, while job opportunities for aerospace engineers in fabricated metal product manufacturing will decline by 2.5 percent through 2033. Employment of industrial engineers in manufacturing is projected to grow 11.4 percent (much faster than the average) from 2023 to 2033. Sectors that will experience especially strong growth include food, beverage and tobacco product, computer and electronic product, and pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, as well as other sectors. Employment of industrial engineers is expected to decline in the following manufacturing fields: motor vehicle parts, apparel, leather and allied product, and audio and video equipment manufacturing.

Manufacturing engineers who are knowledgeable about the latest technologies for automating production processes will be in demand in manufacturing industries. Those with solid skills in various engineering design software, such as computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing software, prior work experience, and certification will have the best job prospects.