The 10 Best Locations to Work in Manufacturing

Dec. 5, 2017
The list of the top ten places includes measuring employment and income growth as well as the density of jobs and housing costs.

In a new twist on rating manufacturing locations, SmartAsset looked at data for 483 metro areas and came up with a list of best places to work in manufacturing which includes data on employment and income growth in manufacturing, as well as the density of manufacturing jobs and housing costs.

The group discovered that it was not big cities but instead smaller metro areas that dominated this list. The average population across the top 10 locations is about 300,000. But if you discount Greenville, N.C. and Ogden-Clearfield, Utah that figure drops in half to 150,000. 

Also in the study, there are some places where manufacturing jobs are growing pretty rapidly, such as Ogden-Clearfield, where the number of manufacturing jobs grew by 55% from 2010 to 2015.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor - MH&L, IW, & EHS Today

Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with Endeavor Business Media and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank.

She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics, EHS Today, and IndustryWeek. 

Editorial Mission Statement:

Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes, and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I Find Manufacturing Interesting: 

On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated, and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.