The US manufacturing sector faces a critical talent shortage, with nearly half a million open roles and a rapidly aging workforce. This demand for skilled talent is intensified by an impending skills drain, as the proportion of employees older than 55 has more than doubled in the last 20 years. Despite reshoring efforts, attracting and retaining talent remains a significant concern for over 56% of manufacturers, who must rethink traditional approaches to compensation and workforce management to succeed in an era of automation and digital transformation, and overcome persistent misconceptions about modern manufacturing.
However, the solution isn't just about higher pay. It’s about leveraging technology to create new, higher-value roles that offer better compensation and work-life balance.
prepare to uncover
- how to attract top talent in a competitive American labor market
- how will the current compensation trends shape your hiring strategy?
- what impact do local salary trends have on today’s workforce?
- what in-demand skills must be your focus to hire the best manufacturing workers?
- how to build result-driven hiring strategies to onboard great talent
Our 2026 manufacturing salary guide is the essential resource for navigating these challenges, providing the data and strategies you need to build a resilient, high-skilled team.
what you'll uncover in our 2026 manufacturing salary guide
Our comprehensive guide compiles data from a wide range of manufacturing specialties to give you a detailed view of the evolving US market. Inside, you will find:
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in-demand job market data
Get a granular look at national and regional salary averages for the most sought-after roles, including:
- forklift operator
- electronic parts assembler
- assembler fabricator
- cnc machine operator
- maintenance supervisor
- inventory control clerk
- warehouse laborer
- production laborer
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analysis and trends for the year ahead
Beyond the numbers, our guide provides strategic insights into the factors that will drive hiring and retention in 2026.
- Tech on the factory floor: Discover how 84.7% of manufacturers are prioritizing digital transformation, with 55% already using generative AI in operations. Our guide explores how these technologies are shifting recruitment toward workers who possess both technical knowledge and problem-solving capabilities.
- From skills gap to upskilling: The skills gap persists, but our guide offers a solution. Learn how to address business demands for greater efficiency and employee demands for learning and development with comprehensive training programs that cover AI, robotics, and data analysis.
- Higher pay, better balance: As manual processes become automated, employers can now offer workers the chance to transition into higher-paying technical positions. These roles often feature better work-life balance through flexible scheduling, helping you attract and retain a skilled, satisfied workforce.
Our guide features contributions from industry experts, offering a comprehensive view of the current and future landscape of manufacturing compensation in the US. By understanding these trends, you can build a resilient team capable of thriving in Industry 4.0.
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