Manufacturing
Explore Manufacturing
Is your child interested in robotics, engineering, or science? Get your child started in a reliable career in manufacturing. The industry is projected to have 2.4 million available jobs up to 2028, according to a 2018 Deloitte study3. And as the industry continues to become more tech-savvy—applying a digital edge to manufacturing, construction, and STEM jobs has never been more critical. Modern manufacturing leans heavily on robotics and mechatronics for automation, making it an ideal career field for those who want to pursue math and science without being confined to a traditional lab.
Career pathways include:
Heavy Machine Operations Pre-Apprenticeship Pathway
Knowing how to operate machinery that helps create essential structures is a sought-after skill. This pathway prepares students for a career in equipment operations for industries like construction and machining. They’ll begin with a general exploration of construction and move into the specifics of machinery.
Students will:
Explore the many facets of the construction world to find their interest
Develop the mathematics skills necessary for the construction field
Learn about construction equipment and its various functions
Learn what it takes to maintain heavy machinery for construction
Engineering/Technology Pathway
Engineers make the world work. This pathway starts with the fundamentals of engineering and progresses into more targeted learning. Students gain the knowledge and skills for jobs such as surveying and mapping technician and engineer.
Students will:
Discover areas of specialization and what it takes to succeed as an engineer
Learn product design from concept to manufacturing
Study the physical and chemical principles applied in engineering
See how engineers create work that improves societies around the world
Occupational Spotlight
Construction Equipment Operator
Construction equipment operators drive, maneuver, and control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, buildings, and other structures. They may also need to clean and maintain the equipment, making basic repairs if necessary.
2020 Median Starting Starting Salary1
$42,200
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
19,200
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
4% (Average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus apprenticeship or other on-the-job training
Machinist
Machinists use tools, such as lathes, milling machines, and grinders, to produce precision metal parts. They may produce large quantities of one part, or they may produce small batches or one-of-a-kind items. The parts that machinists make range from simple steel bolts to titanium bone screws for orthopedic implants. Hydraulic parts, antilock brakes, and automobile pistons are other widely known products that machinists make. Shift work is often required.
2020 Median Starting Starting Salary1
$45,483
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
12,400
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
3% (Average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus courses in vo-tech advanced manufacturing program or community college program, as well as on-the-job training
Stationary Engineer/Boiler Operator
Stationary engineers and boiler operators operate engines, boilers, and related equipment for the safe and efficient operation of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment, turbines, generators, pumps, and compressors for large commercial (e.g., hospitals, universities) and industrial facilities. They start up, regulate, repair, and shut down equipment. They monitor meters, gauges, and computerized controls to ensure that equipment operates safely and within established limits. They use sophisticated electrical and electronic test equipment to service, troubleshoot, repair, and monitor heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Shift work is often required.
2020 Median Starting Starting Salary1
$52,989
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
800
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
2% (Slower than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, including relevant coursework in mechanical and technical subjects, plus an apprenticeship or significant on-the-job training
Surveying and Mapping Technician
Surveying and mapping technicians assist surveyors and cartographers in making maps and carrying out site surveys to accurately record property and jurisdictional boundaries, bodies of water, elevation, and other geographical features. Surveying technicians spend much of their day outside, searching for prior survey points such as boundary stones, operating surveying equipment, and marking boundaries. Either on site or back at the office, they enter data into a software so that the surveyor may prepare a site map. Mapping technicians help cartographers (map makers) produce and update maps, using computers to combine data from different sources. Mapping technicians may use drones to take aerial photos that help inform the map-making process, and they may use software such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
2020 Median Starting Starting Salary1
$42,606
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
400
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
1% (Slower than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
For surveying technicians, a high school diploma or GED, plus on-the-job training. For mapping technicians, facility with Geographic Information System (GIS) software is usually also needed.
What could my future look like with this career?
Burning Glass
FAQs
Curious about manufacturing careers or exploring education options? Read some of our most frequently asked questions.
Discover More
Real-World Skills Taught in the Classroom
See how Brent Johnson, a teacher at Stride Career Prep, helps students explore careers through sharing knowledge, hands-on experience, and certification test preparation that make them even more employable after graduation.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear How Stride Career Prep Can Work for Your Teen
Think this might be a good fit for your student? Want to learn more about the program from current participants? Email your questions and hear what Stride Career Prep students have to say.
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
2Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
3 2018 Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute skills gap and future of work study
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
**Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
