Special Offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $75 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs are 2.6x times faster to first hire than non-sponsored jobs.**
  • Attract the talent you’re looking for
  • Get more visibility in search results
  • Appear to more candidates longer

Manufacturing Technician Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Manufacturing Technician, or Manufacturing Operator, completes one or more steps of the process required to manufacture goods. They operate equipment, test finished products and troubleshoot problems with machinery.

Manufacturing Technician duties and responsibilities

The biggest responsibility of a Manufacturing Technician is to ensure that parts and finished products meet quality expectations. To achieve this goal, they perform key Manufacturing Technician job duties, such as:

  • Setting up machinery by positioning parts, loading materials and entering specifications on computers

  • Monitoring one or more stages of the manufacturing process while equipment is running

  • Assessing the quality of products and identifying any flaws

  • Troubleshooting problems that arise with machinery and making basic repairs

  • Regularly inspecting, cleaning and performing maintenance on machinery to keep it in good working order

  • Updating logs with maintenance information

  • Completing productivity reports, detailing the number of parts or products made during each shift

  • Following health and safety rules to reduce the risk of workplace injury

Hire your next Manufacturing Technician today.

Build a job description

Hire your next Manufacturing Technician today.

Build a job description
Close

Manufacturing Technician Job Description Examples

Optimize Your Interviews
Use our toolkit to optimize your interview process, improve your hiring decisions and enhance the candidate experience.
Get the Toolkit

What does a Manufacturing Technician do?

A Manufacturing Technician takes goods from schematic to finished products. By performing their assigned Manufacturing Technician job duties proficiently, they allow manufacturing companies to produce a sufficient number of parts to meet client demand. Their quality control responsibilities also ensure that goods sold meet or exceed expectations to ensure customer satisfaction and encourage repeat business. When they properly maintain and clean equipment, a Manufacturing Technician may help to extend the life of the machinery, so companies can maximize their return on investment and postpone the purchase of replacements.

Manufacturing Technician skills and qualifications

To perform well in Manufacturing Technician careers, candidates must possess certain skills. The following are some qualifications that may indicate a quality candidate:

  • Ability to remain at workstation for prolonged periods

  • Written communication skills to complete reports

  • Ability to manipulate buttons, levers and dials to operate machinery

  • Attentiveness to detail to spot flaws in products or problems with equipment

  • Problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot

  • Ability to move materials or finished goods from one location to another

  • Familiarity with numerical control machining (CNC) equipment and software

  • Time management skills to produce the required number of parts or products each shift

Manufacturing Technician experience requirements

How much experience is necessary for success in Manufacturing Technician careers varies by industry. Pharmaceuticals, dietary products, medical equipment, scientific instruments, electronics components and precision parts typically require more strict quality controls and involve extra responsibilities, such as sterilizing equipment. In these industries, Manufacturing Technicians may require 2-3 years of experience working in general manufacturing. If your company’s manufacturing process doesn’t involve high-level quality control, candidates with no experience who receive on-the-job training may be able to execute Manufacturing Technician job duties well.

Manufacturing Technician education and training requirements

General Manufacturing Technician jobs typically require no education beyond a high school diploma or GED. For Manufacturing Technician careers in specialty manufacturing, some post-secondary training or education may be necessary. Depending on your industry, you may wish to focus on candidates who have completed an apprenticeship, obtained a certificate or diploma from a technical training school or earned an associate degree in manufacturing technology. Holding a Manufacturing Technician Certification from the Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI) can also set candidates apart. To earn this certification, technicians must complete an approved training course and pass an examination.

Manufacturing Technician salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Manufacturing Technician is $48,304 per year. How much candidates can expect to be paid varies based on geographic location, employer’s industry, experience, training and education.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the Manufacturing Technician job duties don’t exactly match your company’s needs, one of the following alternatives may be a better fit:

Manufacturing Technician job description FAQs

Who does a Manufacturing Technician report to?

Who a Manufacturing Technician reports to will vary based on your company’s organizational structure. In many cases, companies divide the manufacturing process into stages and then create teams to handle each stage. The team usually has a main supervisor who oversees all the Manufacturing Technicians. Factories that operate around the clock may have Shift Supervisors who oversee Manufacturing Technicians during a given shift and then report to the main supervisor.

What is the difference between a Machinist and a Manufacturing Technician?

Both Machinists and Manufacturing Technicians produce parts or finished goods. However, Machinists have more responsibilities. They produce precision parts and instruments and must design and build custom tools for manufacturing them. Manufacturing Technicians typically have the equipment and tools needed for producing goods provided.

What makes a good Manufacturing Technician job description?

When creating a Manufacturing Technician job description, details matter. Make sure to describe the working conditions and the industry, so candidates can determine if they are the right fit. Adding information about benefits, such as health insurance, paid time off and retirement plans, can help to attract candidates.

Optimize Your Interviews
Use our toolkit to optimize your interview process, improve your hiring decisions and enhance the candidate experience.
Get the Toolkit

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Hire your next Manufacturing Technician today.

Build a job description

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

No search results found