SmartAsset identifies 2017 Best Places to Work in Manufacturing

SmartAsset has released its 2017 list of Best Places to Work in Manufacturing. The company looked at data for 483 metro areas, focusing on employment growth in manufacturing, income growth in manufacturing, density of manufacturing jobs, and housing costs.

1. Talladega-Sylacauga, Ala. – Just over 39 percent of the workforce in this metro area work in manufacturing. Manufacturing jobs here also pay pretty well, especially when you consider the area’s average housing costs. We estimate the average manufacturing worker earns $58,461 after accounting for housing costs.
2. Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, S.C. – From 2010 to 2015 the number of manufacturing jobs in the area grew by 37.8 percent. The growth in jobs is accompanied by growing incomes: From 2014 to 2015 the average income for a manufacturing worker here grew by 14.7 percent.
3. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah - From 2010 to 2015 the number of manufacturing jobs here grew by 55 percent. Over that same time period incomes for manufacturing workers grew by 31 percent. After paying for the median house, the average manufacturing worker in Ogden-Clearfield would earn $45,600.
4. Rockford, Ill. - About 25 percent of all workers in Rockford are employed in the manufacturing industry. After paying for housing, the average manufacturing worker would have about $54,000 left.
5. Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, Ky. - Census data from 2015 shows 7,000 people here work in manufacturing, or about 17 percent of all workers. From 2010 to 2015 the number of manufacturing jobs here grew 41 percent. In just one year, from 2014 to 2015, it grew by 7 percent. They earn $42,800, on average, after accounting for housing costs.
6. Greenville, N.C. – In 2015 the average Greenville manufacturing worker earned 27 percent more than they did in 2010. Just from 2014 to 2015, the average manufacturing worker’s income rose 18.5 percent. However, only 9.4 percent of workers in this metro area work in the manufacturing industry.
7. Napa, Calif. - About 11,500 people are employed in the manufacturing industry here, 8,000 of whom are employed by wineries. Overall about 18.6 percent of employed people in Napa worked in manufacturing as of 2015. After paying for housing, the average manufacturing worker earns around $51,000.
8. Amarillo, Texas - From 2010 to 2015 the average manufacturing worker’s income increased by almost 39 percent. From 2014 to 2015, the median income increased by 25 percent.
9. Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis. - About 22,000 people here are employed in the manufacturing industry. Paper manufacturing and transportation equipment manufacturing are the most popular industries, with 4,776 and 4,679 employed workers, respectively. From 2014 to 2015 the number of manufacturing jobs grew by 12 percent.
10. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Wash. - From 2014 to 2015 the average income for manufacturing workers increased by 5 percent. Manufacturing workers earn about $49,000 after accounting for housing costs.