Manufacturing · National
Across the six metros we track, the markets with the most maintenance mechanics pay them the least: Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth sit just below the U.S. median, while Phoenix, Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul pay $74,800 to $75,850. Careerscape recruits manufacturing talent nationally, with remote recruiters who work only in their industry, so a search can reach whichever market holds the people.
National picture
National BLS figures. Recent months are preliminary.
Market by market
Industrial machinery mechanics keep every plant running and are a hard hire in most markets, so they are the clearest single read on manufacturing labor. BLS May 2025 estimates for each metro we cover; a location quotient (LQ) above 1 means the role is more concentrated there than nationally.
| Market | Jobs | Median pay · vs. U.S. | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 18,360 | $63,180−2% | 1.97 |
| Dallas | 12,730 | $63,380−2% | 1.11 |
| Chicago | 8,710 | $75,800+17% | 0.68 |
| Detroit | 6,520 | $71,100+10% | 1.21 |
| Minneapolis | 3,800 | $74,800+16% | 0.69 |
| Phoenix | 3,720 | $75,850+18% | 0.55 |
The pattern runs in reverse: the deepest markets pay the least. Houston (LQ 1.97) and Dallas-Fort Worth (1.11) have the most mechanics, at medians of $63,180 and $63,380, slightly below the U.S. median of $64,520. Phoenix (0.55), Chicago (0.68) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (0.69) are the thinnest and pay $75,850, $75,800 and $74,800. Detroit sits between, at 1.21 and $71,100. Industrial Machinery Mechanics, by metro area, sorted by jobs. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; U.S. median $64,520. Concentration is the BLS location quotient (1.0 = the U.S. share). Each market links to its page.
Where to look
Each metro has its own strengths in the BLS data. If you can choose where a role sits, or where to recruit from, start here.
Mechanical engineers at more than six times the national share (LQ 6.19), industrial engineers at 3.87 and engineering technicians at 3.00. Logisticians earn $93,130, well above the U.S. median.
The deepest pools of welders (LQ 1.80) and industrial machinery mechanics (1.97) of our markets, and the highest mechanical engineer median, $125,350.
Industrial engineering technicians at 4.57 times the national share and machinists at 2.61. Floor roles such as inspectors ($58,900) are paid well above U.S. medians.
The largest absolute pools of the markets we cover for inspectors (23,080), production supervisors (20,970), machinists (11,270) and logisticians (10,220).
Most roles sit close to the national share, with industrial engineers (1.12) and mechanics (1.11) a little deeper. Supervisor pay ($69,940) runs below the U.S. median.
Only industrial engineering technicians (1.53) and industrial engineers (1.04) are above the national share. Chip and packaging employers compete for the same technicians.
2025-35 outlook
National BLS projections for 2025-35. Industrial engineers, mechanical engineers, industrial machinery mechanics and logisticians are all projected to grow much faster than average (7% or more). Production supervisors, machinists and welders are projected to grow slowly, and CNC tool operators to decline. Annual openings stay large even for slow-growth roles, because BLS counts openings from workers who retire or change occupations as well as new jobs.
| Occupation | U.S. jobs, 2025 | U.S. median | Projected growth, 2025–35 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Production Managers | 252,100 | $126,060 | Average (3% to 4%) | 17,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 679,900 | $74,450 | Slower than average (1% to 2%) | 61,000 |
| Industrial Engineers | 365,100 | $102,440 | Much faster than average (7% or higher) | 23,100 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 298,500 | $104,110 | Much faster than average (7% or higher) | 17,800 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 446,900 | $64,520 | Much faster than average (7% or higher) | 44,400 |
| Machinists | 288,300 | $58,750 | Slower than average (1% to 2%) | 26,100 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 602,000 | $48,570 | Average (3% to 4%) | 66,700 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 437,700 | $53,750 | Slower than average (1% to 2%) | 40,300 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 170,000 | $50,690 | Decline (-1% or lower) | 12,500 |
| Logisticians | 255,100 | $82,320 | Much faster than average (7% or higher) | 26,600 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 76,700 | $66,120 | Average (3% to 4%) | 6,600 |
BLS Employment Projections and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), as published on O*NET OnLine. Openings include replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
State rules
Production jobs are rarely licensed, but temp-labor law, electrical and boiler licensing, union rules and federal device rules differ by where the work is done.
| Where | Rule or program | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Day and Temporary Labor Services Act: equal pay for temps after 720 hours at one client in 12 months (originally 90 days), in effect since April 1, 2024 | Long temp assignments cost about as much as direct hires; plan conversion dates. A related equal-benefits rule has been in federal litigation. |
| Texas | TDLR licenses non-exempt electrical work, including Maintenance Electrician and Journeyman Industrial Electrician classes | Check whether plant maintenance work is exempt before posting, and list the license class in the job requirements if it is not. |
| Michigan | Public Act 8 of 2023 repealed private-sector right-to-work; LARA licenses electrical journeymen and masters | Union security clauses are lawful again in private-sector contracts, which comes up when candidates move between union and non-union plants. |
| Minnesota | DLI licenses boiler engineers and operators and electrical workers, including maintenance licenses | Facilities and maintenance roles may need a specific license grade. |
| All states | FDA Quality Management System Regulation, effective February 2, 2026, incorporating ISO 13485:2016 | Medical device quality and engineering hires need ISO 13485 fluency. |
Each city page covers these rules in more detail. Confirm specifics with the regulator or counsel before relying on them. Source: TDLR, Michigan Legislature, Minnesota DLI, FDA and Illinois DTLSA legal reporting (full list below).
What we recruit
Permanent, contract, contract-to-hire and temporary roles, plus executive search for plant and operations leadership.
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FAQ
A manufacturing recruiting firm finds and screens candidates for plant, engineering, maintenance, quality and supply chain roles. Careerscape fills permanent seats through direct hire, supplies contract and temporary workers on its own payroll, and runs executive searches for plant and operations leaders. Employers receive a pre-screened shortlist and review it in a private Employer Portal. Learn more about our manufacturing staffing services.
It depends on the role. Among the markets we cover, BLS May 2025 data show Detroit is deepest for mechanical and industrial engineers, Houston for welders and maintenance mechanics, and Minneapolis-St. Paul for engineering technicians and machinists. Chicago has the largest absolute pools of inspectors and supervisors. See the city pages for Detroit, Houston and Minneapolis.
Slowly at the national level. BLS counted 12,652 thousand manufacturing jobs in September 2026 (preliminary), up from 12,608 thousand in June, and 522 thousand job openings in August. Growth is uneven by metro: manufacturing employment in Minneapolis-St. Paul rose 4.0% over the year to September, while Dallas-Fort Worth was flat and Detroit and Phoenix were slightly down.
Wherever the plant is. Careerscape is a national agency with a remote team, so our manufacturing recruiters work with employers wherever the plant is. The six metros on this page are where we publish detailed BLS comparisons, not the limit of where we recruit. Tell us the site and the role, and we will look at local pay and talent depth for that market.
Most production roles do not. Licensing usually comes in through electrical and boiler work: Texas, Michigan and Minnesota all license electrical workers, and Minnesota licenses boiler engineers and operators. Medical device makers also face the FDA's quality rule, in effect since February 2, 2026. Rules vary by state and by the work performed, so check the requirement before you post the job.
Send us the role and the site, and we will benchmark pay and talent depth for that market before the search starts.
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