Jobs Similar to Manufacturing Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to manufacturing engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Mechanical Engineers, Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Chemical Engineers.
Manufacturing Engineers: $102,440 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Manufacturing Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 80% | $104,110 | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 79% | $66,120 | Training or associate |
| 3 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 77% | $125,040 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Fuel Cell EngineersSame group | 77% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Materials EngineersSame group | 77% | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 76% | $134,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 76% | $133,970 | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Mechatronics EngineersSame group | 75% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 75% | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsSame group | 75% | $112,230 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 74% | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 74% | $74,510 | Training or associate |
| 13 | Computer Hardware EngineersSame group | 73% | $161,740 | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Robotics EngineersSame group | 73% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Nanosystems EngineersSame group | 73% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Validation EngineersSame group | 73% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 73% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerSame group | 73% | $130,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 72% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 72% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Mechanical Engineers
80% similar · $104,110 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $66,120 · Training or associate
- 3Chemical Engineers
77% similar · $125,040 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Fuel Cell Engineers
77% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Materials Engineers
77% similar · $112,860 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Aerospace Engineers
76% similar · $134,960 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Nuclear Engineers
76% similar · $133,970 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Mechatronics Engineers
75% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Industrial Engineers
75% similar · $102,440 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
75% similar · $112,230 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Electrical Engineers
74% similar · $120,630 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
74% similar · $74,510 · Training or associate
- 13Computer Hardware Engineers
73% similar · $161,740 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Robotics Engineers
73% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Nanosystems Engineers
73% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 16Validation Engineers
73% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Microsystems Engineers
73% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 18Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
73% similar · $130,220 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Automotive Engineers
72% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
72% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for manufacturing engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where manufacturing engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (84)
- Materials Scientists (79)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (75)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (73)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (70)
- Quality Control Systems Managers (70)
- Computer Network Support Specialists (59)
Questions about jobs like manufacturing engineers
What jobs are most similar to manufacturing engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Mechanical Engineers (80% similar), Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (79% similar), Chemical Engineers (77% similar), Fuel Cell Engineers (77% similar) and Materials Engineers (77% similar).
Do jobs like manufacturing engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than manufacturing engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.