MANUFACTURING, ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY AND TRADES
Manufacturing
ARE YOU CURIOUS HOW PRODUCTS ARE CREATED?
Consider a career in Manufacturing.
What is it?
Manufacturing is the process of designing, making, installing and maintaining various products, whether cars or medical devices, furniture or electronics, or even food. Manufacturing has become much more automated today because of advancements in technology. Career paths now require more technology and computer skills, but are in very high-demand.
What will I do?
Manufacturing careers vary depending on the industry and skill level. Automotive and medical products are more automated, where automation technicians are leveraging computers to manage the assembly line. Installers are performing more manual work, assembling products directly with their hands as they move through the assembly line. A fabricator might be using tools to join two pieces of metal together to create a large piece of machinery.
Leads to these jobs:
- Assembler
- Fabricator
- Installer
- Machine Operator
- Maintenance and Repair
- Manufacturing Technician
- Tool and Die Maker
- Welder
Is this for me?
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinker
- Technology-minded
- Good at math and science
- Dependable
Employer Spotlight: WESCO MACHINE AND TOOL, INC.
Wesco Machine is a full-service machine shop that has been providing tight-tolerance machining and metal fabrication services to a variety of industrial end markets since 1996. We offer CNC and manual machining capabilities and work with all types of metal and plastic, encompassing work in a wide variety of applications, such as chemical processors and industrial equipment manufacturers.
We are growing and will be adding skilled talent in manual machining, CNC machining, CAD/CAM, systems implementation, and operations management.
In-Demand Occupations in Illinois
Packaging Machine Operator
- Education Level: Associate Degree
- Median Salary: $30,795
- Job Growth Over Next 10 Years: 8%
- Job Openings Projected Over Next 10 Years: 25,700
Machinist
- Education Level: Associate Degree
- Median Salary: $37,206
- Job Growth Over Next 10 Years: 4%
- Job Openings Projected Over Next 10 Years: 36,250
CNC Operator
- Education Level: Associate Degree
- Median Salary: $37,468
- Job Growth Over Next 10 Years: 3%
- Job Openings Projected Over Next 10 Years: 4,590
Welder & Fabricator
- Education Level: Associate Degree
- Median Salary: $39,271
- Job Growth Over Next 10 Years: 5%
- Job Openings Projected Over Next 10 Years: 15,370
CNC Programmer
- Education Level: Associate Degree
- Median Salary: $54,404
- Job Growth Over Next 10 Years: 18%
- Job Openings Projected Over Next 10 Years: 1,610
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
- Education Level: Associate Degree
- Median Salary: $54,491
- Job Growth Over Next 10 Years: 10%
- Job Openings Projected Over Next 10 Years: 12,360
Source – Illinois Department of Employment Security, 2019
ARCHITECTURE, MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMOTIVE @ JJC
JJC’s AIM program provides students with core education and technical hands-on skills they need to pursue careers in the advanced manufacturing sector. Students will participate in four separate college courses building skills and awareness in industrial maintenance, industrial fluid power, basic wiring, circuit design and industrial controls.
Learn more at www.jjc.edu/academics
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING MANUFACTURING
talk to your school counselor or teachers about what next steps to take.
