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Sector

Careers in Electronics Manufacturing

Electronics manufacturing assembles and produces electronic components and devices. Fully on-site production work with moderate credentials and union presence in some facilities.

1M
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$77K
Median salary
Across all roles
Electronics Manufacturing jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Electronics Manufacturing employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ16K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA14K
3.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX12K
4.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN11K
5.Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH9K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA681.4
2.Columbus, IN671.3
3.Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA603.8
4.Huntsville, AL573
5.Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI558.1
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Electronics Manufacturing

Electronics manufacturing produces components and assemblies โ€” there's satisfaction in precision work, technical production, and making parts that enable modern technology. Many find meaning in quality-critical manufacturing.

The challenge can come from offshore competition and constant improvement pressure. Much electronics assembly has moved overseas; remaining domestic work often requires specialized skills. Yields must be high; defects are costly. Miniaturization increases precision demands.

The field varies by component type and role. PCB assembly differs from components, connectors, or subsystems. SMT technicians have different paths than engineers, quality, or test. Contract manufacturers operate differently than OEMs.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: precision work, technology connection, often clean manufacturing environments, and technical skill development. If you enjoy detailed electronics work, can meet quality demands, and want technical manufacturing careers, electronics offers opportunities for those with skills.

How people break in

Production roles accessible with training. Engineering for design and test. Quality roles through technical background.

Work environment tends toward
Precision productionOffshore competitionContract manufacturingQuality focusTechnical products
Industries it connects to
TechnologyManufacturingDefenseAutomotive
Salary vs. national average
+9%
$77K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all electronics manufacturing roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$93K
2. Boulder$78K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$75K
4. Trenton-Princeton$71K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$70K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$71K in mid-market metros to ~$105K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $105K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $90K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $82K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $93K adj.
Boulder ยท $78K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $75K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 22.3M
Los Angeles ยท 14.8M
Chicago ยท 11.1M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Electronics Manufacturing.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Manufacturing data
18%
People tend to stay in Manufacturing. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 4%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
76%
Small
<50
18%
Mid
50โ€“249
6%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Mostly on-site
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Manufacturing data
~9%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 9%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Electronics Manufacturing

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Engineering
13%
$97K median
Explore โ†’
Business Operations
9%
$87K median
Explore โ†’
Technology
9%
$93K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office
9%
$71K median
Explore โ†’
Arts & Media
8%
$91K median
Explore โ†’
Science
6%
$83K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Electronics Manufacturing. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Electronics Manufacturing

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.