# Manufacturing Engineers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/manufacturing-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2112.03
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $102,440 (10th percentile $74,370, 90th percentile $159,860)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +12.4%
- Openings a year: 23,100
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Industrial engineers".

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 71 |
| Investigative (I) | 59 |
| Artistic (A) | 20 |
| Social (S) | 10 |
| Enterprising (E) | 35 |
| Conventional (C) | 57 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 80/100)
- Processing Information (importance 80/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 78/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 77/100)
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (importance 76/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Complex Problem Solving, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Systems Analysis

## Knowledge

Engineering and Technology, Production and Processing, Mechanical, Design, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Physics, Administration and Management, Education and Training

## Also called

Advance Manufacturing Engineer, Automation Engineer, Design Engineer, Engineer, Facility Engineer, Foundry Process Engineer, Lean Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Applications Engineer, Manufacturing Automation Engineer, Manufacturing Controls Engineer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Engineering-Related Fields](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1515) (CIP 1515, 230 colleges)
- [Industrial Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1435) (CIP 1435, 151 colleges)
- [Systems Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1427) (CIP 1427, 119 colleges)
- [Manufacturing Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1436) (CIP 1436, 86 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus-uva-3072) | Systems Engineering | $96,168 | $144,830 | $12,000 |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Industrial Engineering | $95,993 | $138,720 | $13,992 |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Industrial Engineering | not reported | $128,003 | $20,071 |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Systems Engineering | $87,546 | $122,299 | $19,472 |
| [Lehigh University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lehigh-university-1472) | Industrial Engineering | $84,946 | $121,498 | $19,000 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Systems Engineering | not reported | $120,976 | not reported |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Systems Engineering | not reported | $119,297 | not reported |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Industrial Engineering | $87,932 | $117,930 | $20,500 |

## Related careers

- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers): $104,110 median pay
- [Industrial Production Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-production-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Mechatronics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechatronics-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Chemical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-engineers): $125,040 median pay
- [Automotive Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/automotive-engineers): $104,110 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.