Manufacturing
Dive into the data and learn what it takes to move up the Manufacturing career ladder!
Each career level contains information about hourly wages, job descriptions, main job duties, examples of job titles, general skills, and links to educational courses or training opportunities.
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SECTION 1
95109 – Other Labourers in Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities
Median hourly wage:
$20.51/hr
What you do:
Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities perform material handling, clean-up, packaging and other elemental activities in processing, manufacturing and utilities. They are employed by companies that manufacture products such as clothing, footwear, furniture and electrical and electronic products and by printing and packaging companies.
Main job duties:
- Transport raw materials, finished products and equipment throughout plant manually or using powered equipment
- Check and weigh materials and products
- Sort, pack, crate and package materials and products
- Assist machine operators, assemblers and other workers
- Clean work areas and equipment
- Perform other labouring and elemental activities.
Skills:
Job title examples:
Bindery helper
Box packer
Carton marker
Chair sander
Clothing plant labourer
Electrical products labourer
Film cutter – film processing
Furniture packer
Garment folder
Lens blocker
Machine packager
Seed packager
Shoe manufacturing labourer
Sorter – recyclable materials
Upholsterer helper
Hourly wages:
$17.20 low
$20.51 median
$25.50 high
Education & Training:
- Some secondary school education may be required.
- Progression to machine operating positions is possible with experience.
SECTION 2
Machine Operators
Median hourly wage:
$24.01/hr
What you do:
Operate one or more automatic or purpose machines to produce a variety of parts and products.
Main job duties:
- Fit and assemble components using hand and power tools
- Clean, polish, file or otherwise finish products
- Check products for quality and other specifications
- May clean and lubricate machinery
Skills:
Attention to detail
Quality control
Teamwork
Mechanical aptitude
Time management
Job title examples:
Machine Set-Up Operator
Machine Setter
Machine Feeder
Hourly wages:
$18.54 low
$24.01 median
$30.90 high
Education & Training:
| Welding | St. Lawrence College |
SECTION 3
72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
Median hourly wage:
$33.05/hr
What you do:
Machinists set up and operate a variety of machine tools to cut or grind metal, plastic or other materials to make or modify parts or products with precise dimensions. Machining and tooling inspectors inspect machined parts and tooling in order to maintain quality control standards. They are employed by machinery, equipment, motor vehicle, automotive parts, aircraft and other metal products manufacturing companies and by machine shops. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main job duties:
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, charts and tables or study sample parts to determine machining operation to be performed, and plan best sequence of operations
- Compute dimensions and tolerances and measure and lay out work pieces
- Set up, operate and maintain a variety of machine tools including computer numerically controlled (CNC) tools to perform precision, non-repetitive machining operations such as sawing, turning, milling, boring, planing, drilling, precision grinding and other operations
- Fit and assemble machined metal parts and subassemblies using hand and power tools
- Verify dimensions of products for accuracy and conformance to specifications using precision measuring instruments
- May set up and program machine tools for use by machining tool operators.
Skills:
Job title examples:
Automotive machinist
Aviation machinist
General machinist
Machining inspector
Machinist
Machinist apprentice
Hourly wages:
$21.88 low
$33.05 median
$45.50 high
Education & Training:
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program or a combination of over four years of work experience and industry courses in machining may be required for trade certification.
- Trade certification for machinists is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories.
- Trade certification for tool and gauge inspectors is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.
- Trade certification for machinists (CNC) is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Quebec and Manitoba.
- Several years of experience as a machinist, tool and die maker or machining tool operator may be required for machining and tooling inspectors.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified machinists upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
SECTION 4
92023 – Manufacturing Supervisor
Median hourly wage:
$33.48/hr
What you do:
Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of workers who assemble, fabricate and insepct a variety of procuts.
Main job duties:
- Establish methods to meet work schedules and co-ordinate work activities with other departments
- Resolve work problems and recommend measures to improve productivity and product quality
- Train workers in job duties, safety procedures and company policy
- Prepare production and other reports
- May set up machines and equipment
Skills:
Organization
Interpersonal skills
Attention to detail
Time management
Leadership
Conflict resolution
Job title examples:
Assembly Supervisor
Manufacturing Foreperson
Manufacturing Supervisor
Hourly wages:
$23.10 low
$33.48 median
$45.29 high
Education & Training:
| Leadership Development | St. Lawrence College | |
| Quality & Assurance Micro-credentials | St. Lawrence College |
SECTION 5
22302 – Manufacturing Technologist or Technician
Median hourly wage:
$34.70/hr
What you do:
Provide technical support and services in the development of production methods, facilities and systems, and the planning, estimating, measuring and scheduling of work.
Main job duties:
- Develop and conduct production, inventory and quality assurance programs in manufacturing
- Collect and analyze data and samples in support of quality assurance and industrial health and safety programs
- Assist in the design of plant layouts
- Develop manufacturing and processing procedures and variables, set machine or equipment controls, oversee production and inspect processes
Skills:
Interpersonal skills
Mechanical aptitude
Attention to detail
Flexibility
Work independently
Job title examples:
Manufacturing Technician
Quality Assurance Technologist
Machinist
Hourly wages:
$22.33 low
$34.70 median
$53.69 high
Education & Training:
SECTION 6
21321 – Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers
Median hourly wage:
$47.06/hr
What you do:
Industrial and manufacturing engineers conduct studies, and develop and supervise programs to achieve the best use of equipment, human resources, technology, materials and procedures to enhance efficiency and productivity. They are employed in consulting firms, manufacturing and processing companies, in government, financial, health care and other institutions, or they may be self-employed.
Main job duties:
- Plan and design plant layouts and facilities
- Study new machinery and facilities and recommend or select efficient combinations
- Develop flexible or integrated manufacturing systems and procedures
- Conduct studies and implement programs to determine optimum inventory levels for production and to allow optimum utilization of machinery, materials and resources
- Analyze costs of production
- Design, develop and conduct time studies and work simplification programs
- Determine human resource and skill requirements and develop training programs
- Develop performance standards, evaluation systems and wage and incentive programs
- Conduct studies of reliability and performance of plant facilities, production or administrative systems
- Develop maintenance standards, schedules and programs
- Establish programs and conduct studies to enhance industrial health and safety or to identify and correct fire and other hazards
- Evaluate or assess industrial facilities
- Supervise technicians, technologists, analysts, administrative staff and other engineers.
Skills:
Job title examples:
Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) engineer
Industrial engineer
Manufacturing engineer
Plant engineer
Production engineer
Quality control engineer
Safety engineer
Work measurement engineer
Hourly wages:
$27.42 low
$47.06 median
$70.53 high
Education & Training:
- A bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
- A master’s degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
SECTION 7
Manufacturing Managers
Median hourly wage:
$57.43/hr
What you do:
Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of a production department or manufacturing establishement.
Main job duties:
- Develop and implement plans to efficiently use materials, labour and equipment to meet production targets
- Plan and manage the operational budget
- Plan and implement changes to machinery and equipment, production systems and methods of work
- Hire, supervise and train or oversee training of employees in the use of new equipment or production techniques
Skills:
Leadership
Oral communication
Time management
Organization
Planning
Conflict Resolution
Job title examples:
Plant Manager
Factory Operations Manager
Production Manager
Hourly wages:
$ 29.41 low
$57.43 median
$88.23 high
Education & Training:
| Project Management | St. Lawrence College | |
| Supply Chain Management | St. Lawrence College |
SECTION 8
Entrepreneur / Business Owner | Manufacturing
Median hourly wage:
Varies
What you do:
Organize and operate a business, taking on greater than normal financial risks to do so.
Main job duties:
- Creating and managing a business plan, ongoing research and planning, hiring staff, creating policies, and forecasting
- Maintaining business accounts, payments processing, taxes and general bookkeeping
- Develop marketing campaigns, manage social media and conduct other marketing activities
- Respond to customer service inquiries, including answering phone calls and emails to build a positive reputation for the business
Skills:
Work independently
Customer service
Organization
Accounting
Time management
Job title examples:
Small Business Owner
Franchisee
Hourly wages:
Education & Training:
| Human Resources | St. Lawrence College | |
| Business Management Entrepreneurial | St. Lawrence College | |
| Records and Information | St. Lawrence College |