If you’re trying to decide which part of the capital goods sector you should study and develop skills in, one of the key factors most people think about is their pay.
These occupations are impactful and important. Within capital goods, there are a wide variety of professions with distinct expertise. There is a career for you in this industry, whether you want an entry-level position or something more senior. But what are the top 15 best-paying jobs in capital goods?
The top 15 best-paying capital goods jobs are:
Let’s discover how much capital goods jobs pay, what education you need, how they will grow over the next ten years, and some details about what each job entails so you can pick which is best for you.
A capital goods job is any career directly related to the manufacturing industry, whether producing physical assets such as machinery or computers or producing other material goods. The most common capital goods jobs tend to be in manufacturing, so these are things that make assets for cars, buildings, and other big machinery, so there are consumer goods, including food production and clothing.
It doesn’t have to be something like a warehouse worker who is working directly up with physical products but can also be people who design for the products, create prototypes of those products, or can even be someone like a robotics engineer who is in charge of building robots and the systems that run them as well as maintaining them.
Capital goods jobs are excellent career paths because they span many different interests, from manufacturing to engineering to business. Companies cannot function without someone who designs and produces products, ensures they are high quality, and adhere to different policies in all other parts of the world. This is especially true for medical products and food.
While some of the higher placement jobs, such as management and engineering, acquire some more education, such as a bachelor’s Degree or even a master’s in some cases, there are more entry-level jobs where all you need is a high school diploma or something equal to a bachelor’s Degree. In some instances, having experience working in a specific field is more important than formal education.
You also shouldn’t miss these other popular posts in the best paying jobs category:
Median Salary | $98,840 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical engineeringAdditional courses in mathematics and physical science. |
Projected Growth | 2% from 2021 to 2031 |
Senior mechanical engineers are in charge of carrying out research and builds while also evaluating and improving mechanical and electrical systems, whether that is specific devices or more industrial equipment. They also may be asked to lead on specific projects, from planning to helping me plan follow-through by consulting with the right specialist.
Since this is a senior position, you will need to have plenty of experience in your field before you get to this job which is why it pays so much. It requires years of education in multiple areas of study before starting the path toward this job.
Median Salary | $98,840 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, marketing, business, business administration, or a related field |
Projected Growth | 6% from 2021 to 2031 |
Sales Engineers are in charge of marketing and selling goods to customers. It usually involves specializing in technology and scientific products. They use their practical skills from their bachelor’s Degree in engineering or related field to explain the benefits of the products and services to potential customers. They will also be able to show them how those technical products work.
Part of the reason Sales Engineers make so much is that they earn commissions on top of their regular pay. Once you get the job, there’s also less competition at a higher level, so it’s easier to make sales at a higher price, leading to a sizable commission.
Median Salary | $56,059 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in graphic design, industrial design, product design, or other related fields |
Projected Growth | 3% from 2021 to 2031 |
Industrial designers come up with product designs for a wide variety of different kinds of products as well as systems. This can be anything from furniture to electronics to cars to medical products. Creating excellent designs requires a background in how specific products work in their field. Hence, many industrial designers specialize in whatever their experience and education focus on.
Industrial designers have many technical skills and essential jobs for their companies. They must create prototypes before making products, so companies are willing to pay a lot for their expertise.
Median Salary | $142,170 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Advertising, Business Administration, or a related field |
Projected Growth | 10% from 2021 to 2031 |
Marketing managers are in charge of managing and organizing a marketing campaign that helps to generate demand for specific products and services and also raise brand awareness. This means that their job encompasses a lot of different kinds of activities depending on what they focussed on during their education and put the needs of their company and industry. They can work in designing as well as evaluating marketing campaigns.
Marketing managers are the reason the right customers find a company’s products, which are essential to a company’s bottom line. They understand what people want and how to get it, so they earn a higher salary.
Median Salary | $100,447 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in business and management, and 3-5 years of sales or marketing experience |
Projected Growth | 7% from 2021 to 2031 |
Business Development managers are critical because they generate new sales leads and negotiate client pricing. Companies rely on them to forecast sales revenues, which means they are valuable to whatever company they work for.
They help companies decide on what products to focus on, how well their business is doing, and what investments they should make.
Business development managers are why the company innovates and generates new revenue streams, so they have a pretty high salary. As they are directly involved in the company’s growth, they usually see raises in their pay which reflect their contributions.
Median Salary | $141,280 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in engineering management or another engineering field |
Projected Growth | 2% from 2021 to 2031 |
Engineering managers are in charge of developing the concepts for new projects and solving problems that may get in the way while that project devises. They plan for those projects, take control of them, and supervise the employees of all the different departments that work on the project.
Managers usually have a higher compensation package which contributes to their higher salary. Engineering managers have a lot of technician skills thanks to their background in engineering while also having the management skills to work efficiently.
Median Salary | $53,062 per year |
Education | Associate’s Degree in architecture, engineering and electronics, construction, or design. |
Projected Growth | 7% from 2021 to 2031 |
Computer-aided design (CAD) technicians create designs for cities and structures in digital rendering that their company can use to produce physical products. They have vital work that requires them to make interactive drawings with immense detail, from the specific products they’re going to use to different specs, whether for buildings, cars, or any other product.
CAD technicians have the skills of a specific program, making them very valuable to companies designing products. Since they have a particular skill set, they usually make more, as many people may know a specific field but have no computer skills.
Median Salary | $147,036 per year |
Education | Master’s Degree or a doctorate in the field you want to apply your knowledge. |
Projected Growth | 5% from 2021 to 2031 |
Research and development managers are in charge of monitoring research and development strategies as well as implementation and figuring out what they should prioritize Beast on their company’s objectives of commercially and in research.
This helps them determine what requires more focus and support. They also are in charge of significant research projects or offer advice about the study to different members of the company or employees.
Research and development managers are highly skilled people in their respective fields. They require a lot of higher education to specialize in their field, making them rare and essential to a company as they try to develop products for their industry. As a result, they have one of the highest salaries.
Median Salary | $151,399 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in industrial production managers is in industrial engineering or business administration. |
Projected Growth | 3% from 2021 to 2031 |
Manufacturing managers are probably one of the highest-paid jobs because they are in charge of many parts of a manufacturing business, from planning to organizing to evaluating the different operations. They may be in the order of the manufacturing establishment or the production department under a general manager. Manufacturing companies are always looking for people to fill this role.
Manufacturing managers have a lot of experience in their field because they have to wear many hats. They’re not only in charge of organizing the overall manufacturing company, but they also need to be able to evaluate the quality and efficiency of it all properly. They oversee many employees, which means they get paid a lot for their efforts.
Also Read: Best Paying Jobs in Metal Fabrications
Median Salary | $32,165 per year |
Education | High school diploma or GED |
Projected Growth | 6% from 2021 to 2031 |
Warehouse workers are responsible for hacking, sending, and receiving different shipments for manufacturing companies. They also need to keep track of inventory and waste from packaging, store materials in the right place so nothing is ruined, and transport goods.
This is more of an entry-level job, but they get paid exceptionally well as they usually work long hours and are always in demand.
Warehouse workers at one of the lower paying jobs from his live-in because a lot of considering they don’t need a lot of education or experience before getting the job. They’re essential to the company’s overall efficiency as they’re the ones that get the products ready for shipment. They usually work long hours, which also means that they get specific bonuses for working overtime.
Median Salary | $143,954 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in business, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering |
Projected Growth | 3% from 2021 to 2031 |
Directors of manufacturing oversee the manufacturing of products, ensuring that production and performance are reaching the company’s quality standards, as well as reviewing employees’ yields and performance. They’re in charge of ensuring the safety of the work environment while also adhering to standards of quality and meeting delivery goals.
As a director, you have a lot of responsibilities, which means that you also make a lot of money to compensate for how much wood you can put in. Manufacturing directors make significantly over the national average, and even entry-level jobs make six figures per year.
Median Salary | $75,861 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in manufacturing engineering |
Projected Growth | 10% from 2021 to 2031 |
Manufacturing Engineers are in charge of designing, implementing, directing, and coordinating manufacturing materials, processes, systems, and other activities. They try to find the most efficient and cost-friendly way of getting a high-quality product while ensuring a safe environment for employees. They provide that the company can create economically competitive products while still being responsible for using the funding for materials and care of workers.
One of the critical parts of a manufacturing engineer’s job is to ensure that the company is buying the most cost-efficient ways to create its products. As a result, they get paid quite well since they are directly involved in how the company uses its funds. This responsibility means they actually save the company a lot of money, which can bolster their position.
Median Salary | $62,938 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in robotics-related disciplines; some jobs require a Master’s Degree. |
Projected Growth | 9% from 2021 to 2031 |
Robotics engineers are in charge of creating and manufacturing robotic technology. They are making different robots and automated systems and are in order of developing algorithms and reading coding to ensure that the robots and their system run efficiently. We must maintain these robots and programs throughout the company’s lifespan and design innovations and updates.
Robotics is becoming a significant part of the manufacturing industry. People with education and experience using robotics and developing systems are highly sought-after, meaning they get paid quite a bit for their particular skills. Manufacturing is one area that uses a lot of Robotics and mechanics too. Having someone who can update and further develop those systems and house is precious.
Median Salary | $115,952 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in quality assurance, statistics, business, or engineering |
Projected Growth | 1% from 2021 to 2031 |
Quality control managers are in charge of assessing quality which mainly entails monitoring employees and the different steps in the production process. They’re individuals who ensure the company’s product meets the high standards required by policy and the company’s sales goals.
These policies also include different standards for overseas consumers and help products be ready for distribution and sales.
Quality control managers must be very aware of the company policies and standards for the quality of their products but also know about the policies and standards and all other parts of the world, especially for businesses that do a lot of business overseas. If there are specific medical product regulations, they need to know about them if they work for a medical company.
Median Salary | $70,000 per year |
Education | Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical or electrical engineering |
Projected Growth | 4% from 2021 to 2031 |
Production development engineers are in charge of managing different designs and prototypes as well as testing the products before they are put into production. They evaluate mechanical designs add determine if they meet the standards and their intended function. They must have a lot of design knowledge and manage the people developing these products. Similarly, they function as a go-between between the development team and the higher-ups.
Product development engineers for creating add using a company’s goals and transform them into an actual products for engineers to further develop and create new profit avenues for their company. As a result, their people. Especially since the accident was between 4 of those in higher positions and those who know how to develop these products and ideas properly.
The number 1 paid job is an Obstetrician, which makes at least $76,000 annually.
Which job pays the highest salary partly depends on how high of a position you have but without counting highly successful CEOs, the highest salary job is an anesthesiologist. They make about $300,000 annually.
Investment banking and securities dealing is the highest paying job sector.
The BLS estimates that the best job in the future is an elementary school teacher.