Manufacturing Employment and Wages in 2023

In 2023, the Manufacturing industry employed over 12.8 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 2% from 2022. The annual mean wage in 2023 was $64,440, and the median wage was $49,240. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 1.6%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Transportation Equipment Manufacturing held the largest number of jobs within the Manufacturing industry, employing over 1.7 million people in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $72,060, with a median wage of $60,390. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from 10.3% to 10.1%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Food Manufacturing accounted for a substantial employment share, with 1.7 million people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $48,970, and the median wage was $41,080. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -25.2% to -25.2%.

The sub-group of Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 1.4 million people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $58,120 and the median wage was $48,470. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -10.4% to -11.2%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Manufacturing industry, we find that General and Operations Managers had the highest annual mean wage in 2023, at $144,700, and a median wage of $125,250. The industry variance to the national average was 11.9%. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products had an annual mean wage of $84,430 and a median wage of $74,930. The industry variance to the national average was 4.9%. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers had an annual mean wage of $71,440 and a median wage of $66,830. The industry variance to the national average was -0.4%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Manufacturing industry included Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, with an annual mean wage of $41,150 and a median wage of $39,130. The industry variance to the national average was 3.5%. Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders had an annual mean wage of $42,070 and a median wage of $39,360. The industry variance to the national average was 2.1%. Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers had an annual mean wage of $43,710 and a median wage of $40,600. The industry variance to the national average was -0.1%.

Summary

In 2023, the Manufacturing industry in the U.S. employed over 12.8 million people, reflecting a 2% increase from 2022. The annual mean wage was $64,440, and the median wage was $49,240, slightly below the national average by 1.6%. Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, the largest sub-group, employed 1.7 million people, with an annual mean wage of $72,060, though its wage variance slightly decreased to 10.1% above the national average. Food Manufacturing, also employing 1.7 million, had a mean wage of $48,970, with a consistent 25.2% wage deficit compared to the national average. Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employed 1.4 million people, with a mean wage of $58,120 and a slight decline in wage competitiveness. Top-paying roles such as General and Operations Managers earned a mean wage of $144,700, while lower-wage positions like Laborers and Packaging Machine Operators saw modest wage variances, reflecting the industry's broad wage range. Overall, while the Manufacturing sector has seen employment growth, wage competitiveness varies across sub-groups and occupations, with some areas lagging behind national trends.

For more detailed industry insights, consider purchasing Aimiax’s 2023 Manufacturing Industry Report.