October is the optimal time to explore this powerhouse of a local industry.
The names of the largest local manufacturers are probably already familiar to you. AAR, Altec, Bendtec, Cirrus, IKONICS, IPS Cranes, Sappi, SCS Interiors, USG — the list goes on.
Though manufacturing has been scaled back in many parts of the country, the sector is alive and well in northeastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. As Brooks Johnson reported in his September 2 Duluth News Tribune article, manufacturing jobs have reached their highest level in over a decade in the Twin Ports.
And demand for these high-paying jobs continues to grow.
According to Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the average annual wage for a manufacturing job is $58,708 in 2018. That’s more than $15,500 higher than average wages across all regional industries.
Welding especially offers some of the best-paying jobs around. These are great local gigs with plenty of career advancement opportunities — and wages start at anywhere from $14 to $23 per hour. Other specialties with high areas of growth include A&P mechanics and a wide range of machinist positions. Educational and employment opportunities abound for all these pathways — click HERE to find out more about what’s available locally.
Further manufacturing leads include TriTec based in Virginia, MN, Ziegler CAT based in Buhl, MN, and AMSOIL based in Superior, WI. Business is booming at all three of these growing facilities.
Taking the last example, AMSOIL is the Superior, WI-based inventor of synthetic oil. From IT, to finance, to quality control, there are tons of professional opportunities all under the same roof on AMSOIL’s state-of-the-art facility — all nine acres of it. Click HERE to see current openings with AMSOIL.
You can explore more high-paying positions within the Northland Manufacturing Industry HERE.
Another great resource is AMFA: The Arrowhead Manufacturers and Fabricators Association. Keep an eye on our events page for AMFA events and turn to their website if you are already in the manufacturing field, or interested in getting into it.