10
Top-Paying Careers
Occupation
Average Entry-Level Experienced
Wage Wage Wage
general and operations manager $42.74 $19.78 $54.23
local print shop or specialty metalworking shop, workers can
environmental engineer $35.97 $22.87 $42.53
dramatically affect the course of their careers and working
conditions by picking one industry rather than another.
commercial and Industrial designer $25.07 $13.39 $30.91
“It’s a profession,” Bryant notes, “not just a job. With a profession,
Industrial engineering Technician $24.46 $15.42 $28.98
the kind of work you do defines who you are.”
electrical and electronic engineering Technician $24.06 $15.75 $28.22 For example, Bryant says, the pace of work in manufacturing
mechanical engineering Technician $23.41 $15.71 $27.26
depends on which industry you enter. “At Apple, they have
purchasing agent, except wholesale, retail,
developed the iPhone, which has the potential to change the
and farm products
$23.39 $14.69 $27.74
entire phone industry, so engineers at other phone companies are
first-line supervisor of production and
scrambling to keep up with a changing market,” he says. “But say
operating workers
$22.94 $13.90 $27.46
you’re working for a company that makes oil drilling equipment.
electromechanical Technician $21.86 $15.06 $25.26 The pace isn’t such that you have to get this product out in two
avionics Technician $20.19 $13.42 $23.58
weeks, but you’ve still got to produce.”
This is a chart of hourly wages for 10 of the top-paying careers in the manufacturing cluster in Texas.
Note how entry-level wages are often much lower than pay for the average worker and experienced workers
Exciting Employment
in each profession. Source: Texas Workforce Commission.
Manufacturing is as important to the nation’s future as it could
be to yours if you pick the cluster. Although the number of
Job Prospects manufacturing jobs in Texas is growing, nationally, manufacturing
In Texas, the job market for manufacturing is stable for most careers, and represents a declining share of the gross domestic product. The
booming in others. Hansen says, “The job market depends on the area of National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), however, reports
expertise. Industrial safety has a really high demand because companies that every dollar of manufactured goods produced generates $1.37
have to meet government regulations. Also, Texas has a shortage of people of additional economic activity. Even more important, says NAM,
moving into precision machining, so the outlook is good there.” manufacturers are responsible for more than 70 percent of all
As for salary, Hansen says that depends on which profession business research and development, which ultimately benefits the
is chosen. He estimates an entry-level machinist would make entire economy.
$20,000–$30,000 per year. “If you’re talking about management and New product research is where the future of the economy
technological fields, it’s going to be in the $40,000–$50,000 range at lies, and NAM argues that it also makes for exciting
entry level. And all of these salaries will increase with experience.” employment if you choose a career in manufacturing.
(For more specific information on manufacturing jobs, prospects, and “There’s a sense that you’re making something for
pay, see “25 Career Choices” on page 10.) America,” says Kat Snodgrass, NAM’s associate
director of media relations. “It’s
Define Who You Are hands-on, cutting-edge, and
Because manufacturing encompasses so much, from the world’s rewarding.”
largest pharmaceutical and energy companies right down to the
Q
is manufacturing the right cluster for you? Take this quiz to find out.
U
Answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions.
I
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Do you like Do you like to Do you like Do you get are you good Do you like have you held Do you are you Do you
working with take things reading good grades at putting courses leadership like group interested know how
Z
your hands? apart and computer in English, things in school positions projects and in using to use
see how they and technical math, and together by that involve in sports, working scientific tools?
work? magazines? science? following hands-on school, or with others principles
instructions? projects? service to reach a to solve
organiza- common problems?
tions? goal?
If you answered “yes” to five or more of the above questions, manufacturing may be the right cluster for you.
To get a more specific and scientific measurement of your attitudes and abilities, ask your guidance counselor
or teacher about taking a career assessment test or interest inventory.
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