The Manufacturing sector includes a diverse set of industry subsectors, from automotive to medical equipment and supplies manufacturing. Across the 10 Manufacturing subsectors, nearly 90 individual industries are represented. This section highlights employment and wages within the subsectors. For more information on employment and wages by industry, please visit the data search tool for Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
The Automotive subsector is the largest subsector within Manufacturing, accounting for more than one-quarter of sector employment. This subsector includes different types of manufacturing all related to motor vehicles. This subsector had an average annual wage of $94,700 in 2025, greater than the average annual wage for the entire Manufacturing sector. This was led by Motor vehicle manufacturing at $105,600. More than two-thirds of employment within this subsector was contained within Motor vehicle parts manufacturing.
Metals is the second largest subsector within the Manufacturing sector with an employment of 86,800 in 2025. This subsector includes industries that produce screws, hardware, and other metal-based products. Machine shops; turned product; and screw, nut and bolt manufacturing accounted for more than one-quarter of subsector employment. The average salary within Metals was $76,600 and was the second lowest paying subsector within Manufacturing. Three industries within the subsector had an annual wage greater than the Manufacturing average.
Chemical products, which covers the manufacturing of products such as rubber, paint, and plastic, employed more than 66,300 workers in 2025, with an average annual salary of $85,400. Nearly half of subsector employment was in Plastics product manufacturing, which had the lowest average annual salary at $68,900. Five industries within the subsector had an average annual salary greater than $100,000 in 2025; these industries account for about 39 percent of subsector employment.
The Machinery subsector had nearly 66,200 workers in 2025 and an average annual salary of $90,400. Metalworking machinery manufacturing accounted for more than 40 percent of subsector employment and had an average annual wage of $85,000. Both Engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing and Other general purpose machinery manufacturing observed average annual wages of $100,000 or greater accounting for one-third of subsector employment.
Food and beverage employed 53,900 workers in 2025. The subsector, which produces goods such as meat, vegetables, and baked goods, was the lowest paying within Manufacturing with average annual earnings of $64,200. Nearly one-fifth of jobs within Food and beverage were in the Bakers and tortilla manufacturing industry. Two industries within the subsector – Grain and oilseed milling and Animal food manufacturing – had an average annual salary greater than that of Manufacturing.
The Computer and electronic products subsector was the second highest paying subsector within Manufacturing in 2025 with an average annual wage of $98,700. The subsector employed 35,800 workers, with about one-third of workers employed within Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing. This industry specializes in producing products like microchips and has an average annual wage of $91,400. With an average annual wage of $143,200, Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing was one of the highest paying industries within Manufacturing but the industry only employed 630 individuals in 2025.
Natural resources covers the production of products such as cement, paper, and glass. It had an employment of 35,100 and an average annual wage of $81,900 in 2025. About one-quarter of subsector employment was within Converted paper product manufacturing. Petroleum and coal products manufacturing had the greatest wage within the subsector at $112,700.
The Other subsector contains several industries that do not align neatly with other Manufacturing subsectors. These industries range from Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, the third largest industry in the subsector, to Footwear manufacturing. There were 42,900 employed within the Other subsector in 2025, and the average wage was $77,400.
Nearly 20,000 people worked in the Furniture subsector in 2025. Nearly 75 percent of subsector employment was in Office furniture (including fixtures) manufacturing. The Furniture subsector had an average annual wage slightly greater than the Manufacturing sector average of $87,000.
With an average annual wage of $103,000, the Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing subsector was the highest paying subsector within Manufacturing. The subsector employed more than 12,300 workers in 2025 and includes the production of surgical instruments, dental equipment, and orthodontic appliances.
