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Advanced Manufacturing Construction Healthcare Information Technology Hospitality, Entertainment, Amusement, Recreation, & Tourism Life Sciences Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics About Career WebWhat Is Advanced Manufacturing?
Almost everything that people buy and use in their daily lives is invented and made by manufacturers, many of them right here in Northwest Indiana. Advanced manufacturers spend enormous amounts of time and money on research and development. The end result? Medical devices, environmentally-friendly products, the newest cars or electronic devices, robots or machines; all of these are made by manufacturers! In short, advanced manufacturers are the people that make and use technology to drive the economy.
What Types of Advanced Manufacturers Are in Northwest Indiana?
In Northwest Indiana, there are a few different types of manufacturers. Many of them offer similar types of jobs and career paths, but each has some unique characteristics. Read below to learn about the cool things that are being made right here in NWI.
Steel Mills
Steel is one of the strongest and most versatile materials and has many applications. It is used to make cars, buildings, appliances, and tons of other products. Northwest Indiana is home to some of the world’s largest steel makers, and many of them will have to hire thousands to handle increased demand for steel as well as to replace retirees. Opportunities will be best for engineers, computer scientists, business majors, and skilled production and maintenance workers. Employers are increasingly looking to hire workers with an Associate’s Degree or higher for many of these positions.
Thinking about starting a career in steel? Check out this great program between Ivy Tech Community College and ArcelorMittal USA: Steelworker For the Future
Machinery Manufacturers
Productivity is the name of the game in machinery manufacturing. Most of the openings in this industry will require more than a high school diploma. For those that have the right training, these employers will offer some of the highest paying jobs in manufacturing.
Transportation Equipment Manufacturers
Indiana is one of the few states in the nation to increase employment in transportation-related manufacturing. NWI is home to several companies that supply parts to some of the biggest car manufacturers in the world. Retirements will create many new job openings, and average earnings are well above-average.
Chemical, Plastic, and Rubber Products Manufacturing
Chemicals, plastics, and rubber are some of the building blocks of the latest technology. NWI houses many companies that supply these refined products to businesses around the world. Like many other types of manufacturing, retirements will create many job openings.
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
Did you know that oil is one of the main ingredients in asphalt? Not only does it power our cars, it is what we drive on, too! NWI is home to one of the largest – and growing – crude oil refineries in the United States. This sector should be a great place to start a career.
Mineral Products Manufacturing
Mineral products manufacturers take minerals like sand, gravel, stone, and clay, and turn them into products used by consumers or by other businesses. Many of their products are essential materials, like bricks, that are used by a wide variety of people and companies.
Others
There are many other types of manufacturers in Northwest Indiana. They all use technology to increase efficiency and need young workers that understand high-tech devices in order to be more productive.
Here are some other types of manufacturers in the Region:
- Food
- Furniture
- Wood Products
- Printing and Related Activities
- Paper
- Computer and Electronic Products
- Beverage and Tobacco Products
- Apparel
- Textile
- Electrical Equipment and Appliance
- Textile Products
- Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
Career Ladders
Why a Career Ladder?
A Career Ladder is a family of related jobs. You may be in one job along the Career Ladder for a few months or years. In order to move up, you will need on-the-job training and experience, formal education (in a classroom), or a combination of both.
Use the tabs above to navigate the career ladder. Each tab contains a couple of jobs that are typical for that rung on the ladder. Click on the job title to read about how much you can earn, what type of education you need, and more. Then, move on to the next tab to see what future jobs are possible with the right experience and training. Each job description has links to great websites you can use to learn more or even begin your job search today.
What is this career?
Industrial Engineering Technologists or Technicians use Math, Science, and Engineering to make the production process quicker and more efficient. Time is money, and if a company can produce items faster, they can make more of those items and increase profits at the same time. These workers are very important for employers, as they spend their time studying all the steps it takes to manufacture goods to establish standard production rates or improve efficiency.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Associate's Degree or Higher
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $14.96/hour or $31,120/year
Median: $17.10/hour or $35,580/year
Experienced: $25.40/hour or $52,840/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
As firms continue to seek new means of reducing costs and increasing productivity, demand for industrial engineering technicians to analyze and improve production processes should increase. This should lead to some job growth even in manufacturing industries with slowly growing or declining employment.
Source: Based on information from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where can I find more information?
Learn about Advanced Manufacturing, including Indusrial Engineering Technologists, at Career Voyages
Find out about great careers in manufacturing at Dream !t Do !t
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
Environmental Technicians use their knowledge of engineering and the latest green technology to prevent, control, or clean up environmental pollution. They may even assist in helping to develop new technology and devices under the direction of an engineer.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Associate's Degree or Higher
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $15.03/hour or $31,270/year
Median: $18.46/hour or $38,390/year
Experienced: $23.89/hour or $49,690/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
More environmental engineering technicians will be needed to comply with environmental regulations and to develop methods of cleaning up existing hazards. A shift in emphasis toward preventing problems rather than controlling those that already exist, as well as increasing public health concerns resulting from population growth, also will spur demand.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where can I find more information?
Dream !t Do !t has a ton of great infomration about manufacturing careers
So does Career Voyages
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
Chemical Technicians work in a laboratory or out in the field to help scientists to analyze materials. They assist in the research and development of new products or ways of doing things, quality control, maintenance, or other work that involves experimental, theoretical, or practical applications of chemsitry or similar sciences.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Associate's Degree or Higher
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $14.96/hour or $31,120/year
Median: $18.11/hour or $37,660/year
Experienced: $21.61/hour or $44,960/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
Job Growth for Chemical Technicians within the chemical manufacturing industry may be slower than average, but pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers as well as other types of manufacturers may have increased demand for these workers. As companies increase their focues on quality assurance, there will be greater demand for process and chemical technicians.
Source: Based on information from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Where can I find more information?
Look for detailed information about careers in manufacturing at Career Voyages or Dream !t Do !t
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
Tool and Die Makers use their knowledge of Math and technical skills to analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operatre machine tools, and fit and assemble parts. They also repair many of the dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, guages, and machinists' hand tools they assemble or use.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Associate's Degree and/or Postsecondary Certificate or Award
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $17.54/hour or $36,470/year
Median: $21.76/hour or $45,260/year
Experienced: $29.69/hour or $61,750/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
Tool and Die Makers play a key role in building and maintaining advanced automated manufacturing equipment, which makes them less likely to be laid off than other production workers. As companies invest in new equipment, change prodcution techniques, and make product design changes more rapidly, they will continue to rely heavily on skilled tool and die makers for retooling. Employment in this field is expected to decrease, however, despite increased demand for Tool and Die Makers. More students should pursue this occupation to meet the demand.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where can I find more information?
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
Robotics Technologists (also known as electro-mechanical technicians) operate, test, and/or maintain the most advanced automated, servo-mechanical, or electromechanical equipment such as unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment. They often assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment in a manufacturing facility or similar equipment at worksites, on oil rigs, deep ocean exploration, ro hazardous waste removal.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Associate's Degree or Higher
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $16.98/hour or $35,320/year
Median: $21.91/hour or $45,560/year
Experienced: $26.66/hour or $55,460/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
Similar to Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians, job growth for Robotics Technicians should be driven by increasing demand for electro-mechanical products such as unmanned aircraft and robotic equipment. Advances in productivity and strong foreign competition could keep growth limited to some degree.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where can I find more information?
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
CAD-CAM Designers prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices using computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM). These workers help to communicate with manufacturing machinery and work closely with engineers.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Associate's Degree or Higher
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $16.98/hour or $35,320/year
Median: $20.58/hour or $42,810/year
Experienced: $24.79/hour or $51,560/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
Industrial growth and increasingly complex design problems associated with new products and manufacturing processes will increase the demand for drafting services. Furthermore, drafters are beginning to break out of the traditional drafting role and do work traditionally performed by engineers and architects, also increasing demand.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where can I find more information?
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
Time is money, and Industrial Engineers are experts at analyzing or reducing the amount of time it takes to produce goods or deliver services. They use their knowledge of Math, Science, and Engineering to design, develop, test, and evaluate industrial production, including human work factors, quality control, invetory, shipping and handling, cost, and coordination.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Bachelor's Degree
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $25.06/hour or $52,130/year
Median: $30.42/hour or $63,280/year
Experienced: $37.05/hour or $77,050/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
As firms look for new ways to reduce costs and raise productivity, they increasingly will turn to industrial engineers to develop more efficient processes and reduce costs, delays, and waste. This should lead to job growth for these engineers, even in manufacturing industries with slowly growing or declining employment overall. Because their work is similar to that done in management occupations, many industrial engineers leave the occupation to become managers. Many openings will be created by the need to replace industrial engineers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where can I find more information?
Find out more information about Industrial Engineers at www.careeronestop.org or at the Institute of Industrial Engineers
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
Manufacturers need engineers to design and test products, but they also need people with the skills and knowledge of engineering to sell their products in the market. Sales engineers have a technical background equivalent to a Bachelor's (four-year) degree in engineering and are able to effectively communicate with potential customers.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Bachelor's Degree plus Experience
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $26.65/hour or $55,430/year
Median: $32.03/hour or $66,620/year
Experienced: $37.49/hour or $77,970/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
Projected employment growth for Sales Engineers is expected to be about average in comparison to all occupations. The increasing variety and complexity of goods and services will drive most of the employment growth. Competition, both domestic and foreign, will require companies to bring products to the market quicker, and Sales Engineers will be needed to communicate with potential customers. In addition, more foreign companies will hire American companies to handle sales here in the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where can I find more information?
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
Product Marketing Managers are the links between the manufacturers and the customers. They determine the demand for products and services of their employer and its competitors and identify potential customers. They also help to develop pricing strategies in order to maximize profits and market share while ensuring high customer satisfaction. Also, Product Marketing Managers may oversee product development or monitor trends to detemine if there is a need for new products or services.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Bachelor's Degree plus Work Experience
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $27.45/hour or $57,110/year
Median: $37.07/hour or $77,100/year
Experienced: $53.38/hour or $111,020/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
Job growth for Product Marketing Managers is expected to be about as fast as the average for all occupations. Intense domestic and global competition in products and services offered to consumers and increasing activity in television, radio, and outdoor advertising should create a lot of demand for this career. Having a lot of technical knowledge and the ability to interact with others effectively will help to secure the best job opportunities.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where can I find more information?
Where can I find a job?
What is this career?
Electrical Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and testing of electrical equipment, components, or systems that are used by manufacturers, the military, and for scientific use. They may also supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment or systems.
Source: This description is based on information from O*NET, which is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What kind of education will I need?
Bachelor's Degree
How much can I earn?
Entry Level: $26.42/hour or $54,950/year
Median: $31.97/hour or $66,510/year
Experienced: $39.02/hour or $81,160/year
Note: Wage data for the state of Indiana in 2006
Source: OES Wage Unit
What is the future for this career?
Strong demand for electrical devices, including electric power generators, wireless phone transmitters, high-density batteries, and navigation systems will require manufacturers to hire more electrical engineers. While foreign competition for services could limit that demand, an aging workforce will require an increasing number of young electrical engineers to replace retirees.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
