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Advanced Manufacturing Technician

Overview and Key Facts

Young smiling female technician in blue uniform, protective eyeglasses and helmet working in modern factory
Education
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Pay
Median Pay
$63,760
Job Growth
Job Growth
16.10%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
510,300

What Do They Do?

A manufacturing technician could...

 
Sweets factory. Sweets production process. Conveyor belt with sweets on it.
Repair a broken conveyor belt in a candy factory.
Automotive production line. Welding car body. Modern car assembly line
Help keep the welding robots on a car assembly line moving.
Engineer using laptop computer for maintenance automatic robotic arm with CNC machine in smart factory.
Program a robotic arm that can perform repetitive tasks in a factory.
autonomous robot in factory
Program a robotic arm that can perform repetitive tasks in a factory.
 
Sweets factory. Sweets production process. Conveyor belt with sweets on it. Automotive production line. Welding car body. Modern car assembly line Engineer using laptop computer for maintenance automatic robotic arm with CNC machine in smart factory. autonomous robot in factory

Overview Listen to this section

Have you ever seen an assembly line in a factory on TV? Or have you ever gone on a factory tour? Did you notice all of the conveyor belts and machines working so quickly together? Advanced manufacturing technicians make sure all of these machines keep running. They maintain and repair the electrical and mechanical parts of these machines. They know how fluid systems, like pumps, and gas systems work. Gas systems use compressed air to power machines to clamp, stack, and move items. Technicians can even program machines and make parts for them. In short, they make sure that factories continue making all the products that we need: from complicated products like cars and aircraft engines to simpler products like candy bars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMjbeYyjySM

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Advanced Manufacturing Technician?


  1. Operation and Control: ?
  2. Troubleshooting: ?
  3. Equipment Maintenance: ?
  4. Repairing: ?
  5. Operations Monitoring: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Advanced Manufacturing Technician might do:
  • Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
  • Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.
  • Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery.
  • Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs.
  • Reassemble equipment after completion of inspections, testing, or repairs.
  • Examine parts for defects, such as breakage or excessive wear.
  • Operate newly repaired machinery or equipment to verify the adequacy of repairs.
  • Record repairs and maintenance performed.
  • Record parts or materials used and order or requisition new parts or materials, as necessary.
  • Observe and test the operation of machinery or equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using voltmeters or other testing devices.
  • Analyze test results, machine error messages, or information obtained from operators to diagnose equipment problems.
  • Study blueprints or manufacturers' manuals to determine correct installation or operation of machinery.
  • Cut and weld metal to repair broken metal parts, fabricate new parts, or assemble new equipment.
  • Enter codes and instructions to program computer-controlled machinery.
  • Demonstrate equipment functions and features to machine operators.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Advanced Manufacturing Technician Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Advanced Manufacturing Technician jobs (16.10%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Advanced Manufacturing Technician

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Advanced manufacturing technicians usually need to graduate from high school. They also usually need a year of training on the job after high school.

When they train on the job, they set up, clean, lubricate (add substances to reduce friction), and start machines. They learn skills like:

  • Doing shop mathematics to create machine parts that fit properly.
  • Reading blueprints to understand how a machine works.
  • Using hand tools to maintain and repair machines.
  • Using electronics, for example, to figure out if a circuit is working.
  • Programming robots to do tasks on an assembly line.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: High school diploma or equivalent ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Some technicians complete a 2-year associate's degree program in industrial maintenance. Industrial maintenance programs may include courses such as:

  • Welding: Permanently bonding pieces of metal together
  • Mathematics
  • Hydraulics: The study of liquids, how they move, act under pressure, and can make machines work
  • Pneumatics: The study of gases, how they move, act under pressure and can make machines work

The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) offers 2-year work/study programs. Students spend 2 days a week learning at a community college. They spend 3 days a week practicing their skills in a paid job. They might work at a local manufacturing workplace, such as Toyota, Hershey, or 3M. Students can find the FAME program in 15 states with 400 participating companies.

Graduates often go on to find jobs with these companies. They also gain an associate's degree and a certificate. They may continue on to pathways as engineering technicians or manufacturing engineers.

Companies That Hire Advanced Manufacturing Technicians

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Read this interview with automotive tech graduate Austin Wilhite, who enjoys working with his hands and has already been able to buy a house with his earnings.
It's a really good career. Maintenance people are in really high demand... Plus, it's a lot of problem-solving—and that'll help you in your life.  
Austin Wilhite
Find out how to become an advanced manufacturing technician by working and studying at the same time in the FAME program or a program similar to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klm0yDYBRHo

Nature of the Work

Advanced manufacturing technicians maintain and repair machines in factories. Their goal is to keep machines running safely and repair them quickly so that the factories can continue making products. When machines break down, it can be expensive and possibly unsafe. Breakdowns can increase the time customers wait for products.

Technicians use creative problem-solving since they work with four types of energy: electrical, mechanical, hydraulic (fluids), and pneumatic (gas). They also know how to program computers and robots. They even weld and use tools to make and join parts.

Technicians check machines' electrical circuits and label wires. They can make sure that the machines shut off in an emergency or if there is an overload of electricity. For example, in a drug company factory, technicians maintain and repair incubators, machines that need to stay within a certain temperature range.

Technicians repair mechanical problems. If a conveyor belt starts shaking on an assembly line that is packaging food, a technician might arrive to figure out the problem. She might check to see if bearings—parts that help with friction—are worn out. If she needs to repair a machine, she might take the equipment apart to replace worn-out parts. Then, she might test the machine to make sure it works the way it should.

Technicians are also able to fix fluid and gas systems. Some technicians fix pumps in car factories or oil refineries. Others maintain hydraulic lifts, machines that raise heavy loads using fluid power.

Many technicians program industrial computers called programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that control machines on an assembly line. Some of these assembly lines make food, like candy. Some technicians program the way that robotic arms move. The robots take over repetitive tasks that might injure or become boring for a human worker. In a car factory, these robots join parts together through welding.

Technicians also do welding, but they create brand-new machine parts or cut parts and fasten them together. They also use lathes and drill presses. A lathe is a tool that spins quickly to cut, shape, or sand a part. A drill press makes exact holes in a part. When technicians make repairs, they use hand tools like socket wrenches, which turn nuts and bolts.

Work Environment

Advanced manufacturing technicians usually work in manufacturing operations. Sometimes, these workplaces are noisy and dirty, but other factories are clean and bright. If the factory is making semiconductors, it might be very clean (such rooms are specifically called "clean rooms").

Working with machinery can be dangerous. To stay safe, workers must follow rules. They must wear safety gear, such as hardhats, safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, gloves, and earplugs.

Most technicians work full-time during the week. However, they may be on-call at night during the weekend. On-call means that if a machine breaks down or a problem happens, technicians go into work to deal with the issue. They may also need to work overtime during busy times.

More Information

Ask Questions

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