Manufacturing Cluster
This diverse career cluster prepares learners for careers in planning, managing, and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products. Careers also include related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance and manufacturing/process engineering.
For a downloadable handout click here:
Typical High School Classes
- Intro to the Built Environment
- Computer Aided Drafting
- Computer Integrated Manufacturing
- Electronics
- Engineering Design
- Manufacturing Woods / Metals / Plastics
- Mechatronics
- Welding
Career & Technical Student Organizations
Get involved with these organizations that support Manufacturing!
H3 Occupations & Average Entry Wage
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General – $25,513
Industrial Machinery Mechanics – $33,485
Machinists – $26,581
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers – $28,551
Purchasing Agents (except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products) – $41,494
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians – $43,111
Industrial Engineering Technicians – $37,810
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment – $43,111
Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic – $37,569
Find more H3 jobs at: h3.ne.gov
*This H3 list based on projected highest number of openings in Nebraska through 2024. Source: Nebraska Department of Labor, Office of Labor Market Information
Virtual Career Tours
Education Pathways to begin your career
| Pathway | Certificate | Diploma | Associate’s Degree | Bachelor’s Degree | Military |
| ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| DIVERSIFIED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| ELECTROMECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY / MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| ENERGY GENERATION OPERATIONS | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| ENGINEERING | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY TEACHER | ✔ | ||||
| LOGISTICS AND MATERIAL MANAGEMENT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ||||
| METALLURGICAL TECHNOLOGY/ TECHNICIAN | ✔ | ||||
| NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| PLASTICS AND POLYMER ENGINEERING | ✔ | ||||
| PRECISION MACHINING AND AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| QUALITY CONTROL TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| ROBOTICS | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| TEXTILE SCIENCE | ✔ | ||||
| UTILITY LINE | ✔ | ||||
| WELDING TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY | ✔ | ✔ |
Check out all education and training options. Entry into these careers may begin with:
- Apprenticeships
- On-the-job training
- Attaining stackable credentials
- Entry-level employment