Manufacturing Employment and Wages in 2024

In 2024, the Manufacturing industry employed over 12.8 million people in the United States, reflecting a decrease of 0.5% from 2023. The annual mean wage in 2024 was $66,820, and the median wage was $51,670. 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 1.8 million people in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $76,120, with a median wage of $62,490. There was an increase in wage variance to the national average compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 10.1% to 12.1%, indicating industry wages outpaced national wage trends.

Food Manufacturing accounted for a substantial employment share, with 1.7 million people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $51,290, and the median wage was $43,830. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -25.2% to -24.5%.

The sub-group of Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 1.4 million people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $60,940 and the median wage was $50,510. The wage variance to the national average experienced an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -11.2% to -10.3%.

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 2024, at $148,790, and a median wage of $128,030. The industry variance to the national average was 11.8%. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products had an annual mean wage of $85,430 and a median wage of $75,900. The industry variance to the national average was 4.9%. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers had an annual mean wage of $74,500 and a median wage of $72,800. The industry variance to the national average was -0.1%.

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 $42,620 and a median wage of $41,260. The industry variance to the national average was 2.9%. Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders had an annual mean wage of $44,630 and a median wage of $43,010. The industry variance to the national average was 2.3%. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators had an annual mean wage of $46,560 and a median wage of $44,770. The industry variance to the national average was 3.8%.

Summary

In 2024, the Manufacturing industry employed over 12.8 million people in the United States, marking a slight decline of 0.5% from 2023. Despite this contraction, wages remained relatively competitive, with an annual mean wage of $66,820 and a median wage of $51,670—1.6% below the national average. Among sub-industries, Transportation Equipment Manufacturing led employment and wage growth, outpacing national wage trends with a 12.1% premium. Other major sub-sectors such as Food Manufacturing and Fabricated Metal Products saw lower wages but modest improvement in wage variance. High-paying roles like General and Operations Managers and Sales Representatives offered strong earning potential, while roles in assembly and materials handling—though essential—remained on the lower end of the pay scale. Overall, while manufacturing employment softened slightly, wage growth in key segments and skilled roles suggests a continued demand for talent in advanced production and operational leadership.