Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/883962
F a l l 2 0 1 7 • S T U F F 3 1 M A N U FA C T U R I N G PAY F a l l 2 0 1 7 • S T U F F 3 1 This is exciting news for skilled workers, whether or not they got their experience on-the-job. Not only are companies offering competitively high salaries, this lucrative industry is showcasing job security and growth opportunities in abundance. According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, experienced workers take home, on average, $77,824 a year while hourly workers bring in an average of $37.42 an hour. Executive pay: $200K-$15M+ Like Murphy said, the salary cap in the manufacturing industry is high, even for high-level executives. And unlike other industries, working your way to a C-suite is not uncommon. "My dad was the head engineer at Colt Manufacturing, so naturally he got me a job working there," said Murphy. "Back then it was dirty work, most days I had to change on the back steps to avoid tracking in the oil. It wasn't exactly glamorous … but the more exposed I became, the more I started to like it." It didn't take long for Murphy to land a job at a manufacturing company offering a two-year management course for employees. Murphy took advantage of on-the-job training which led him to achieve his engineering degree. "After I got my degree, I was able to work in a variety of departments. This gave me a well-rounded understanding of the business enabling me to become a plant manager," said Murphy. "I seized one opportunity after another and before I knew it, I was president and then CEO." Murphy wasn't comfortable divulging his salary with STUFF, but he did confirm that his colleagues make well beyond six figures. "We're talking a couple hundred thousand dollars, a year, in salary," he said. For an industry that is commonly personified by the hardest working generation in American history, one known for dirty, back-breaking, blood, sweat and tears labor, Murphy and his team are challenging the way students and their parents perceive manufacturing. "We don't hire people for their hands, we hire them for their innovation," said Murphy. "A good manufacturing employee has both analytical skills and good communication." Hard skills can be taught – what manufacturing companies are looking for is a creative mind with a passion to learn. "Currently, 180 employers are using entities like CCAT to find unskilled employees," said Ginsberg. "Entering manufacturing is a career move worth making for many reasons," he said. "If we didn't feel that way we wouldn't offer programs like the 'Connecticut. Dream it. Do it.' program created to inspire the next generation to get excited about this booming industry we call manufacturing." FactOId $30K 16% Difference in Hartford County of the average annual pay of a manufacturer ($81,224) and education and healthcare workers ($52,104) Increase in annual pay for a Connecticut worker in the manufacturing industry ($79,022) compared to the construction industry ($66,560)