Industrial welder working on manufacturing equipment in an Ohio factory with sparks flying
State & Regional Guides

Ohio's Manufacturing Trades Boom: Why Welders, Machinists, and Industrial Electricians Are in High Demand

Ohio's $137.9 billion manufacturing sector — home to Intel's $28B semiconductor campus, Honda's $4.4B EV battery plant, and 687,000 manufacturing jobs — is creating urgent demand for welders, CNC machinists, industrial electricians, and millwrights. Here's what the data says and how to get started.

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A data-driven guide for anyone considering a manufacturing trade career in Ohio and the Midwest.

TL;DR: Ohio’s manufacturing sector generated $137.9 billion in GDP in 2024 — 16.5% of the state’s entire private economy — and supports 687,000 jobs, ranking Ohio third in the nation for manufacturing employment. Now, a wave of historic investment is amplifying that demand: Intel is building a $28 billion semiconductor campus in New Albany requiring 7,000 construction workers, and Honda’s $4.4 billion EV battery joint venture in Fayette County is adding 2,200 permanent jobs. The result is a labor market urgently short of welders, CNC machinists, industrial maintenance electricians, and millwrights — trades that pay $51,000–$65,000 at the median, with experienced specialists earning well above $80,000. If you are considering a manufacturing trade career, Ohio and the broader Midwest are among the best places in the country to build one right now.

Why Ohio’s manufacturing trades are surging right now

Ohio has been a manufacturing state for more than a century, but what is happening right now is qualitatively different from anything the state has seen in decades. Three forces are converging to create one of the strongest skilled-trades hiring environments in modern Ohio history.

The reshoring wave. After years of watching manufacturing capacity migrate overseas, American companies and policymakers began aggressively reversing course following supply chain disruptions exposed during the pandemic. The CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and reshoring incentives have directed hundreds of billions of dollars into domestic production. Ohio, with its central location, strong highway and rail infrastructure, and existing manufacturing workforce, has become one of the primary destinations for that investment.

The EV and semiconductor buildout. Electric vehicles and advanced semiconductors require entirely new manufacturing ecosystems. Lithium-ion battery cells must be fabricated. Semiconductor wafers must be processed. Both industries require large, complex facilities filled with precision equipment — and that equipment needs to be installed, maintained, and operated by skilled trades workers. Ohio is at the center of both industries.

The aging workforce. Manufacturing’s existing workforce skews older. The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) reports that the sector faces “tens of thousands of annual manufacturing job openings statewide” even before accounting for major expansion projects. The Manufacturing Institute, an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, projected in 2025 that the U.S. faces a potential shortfall of 1.9 million manufacturing workers by 2033 if the talent pipeline is not expanded. Today there are already over 400,000 open manufacturing jobs nationwide.

According to OMA’s 2025 Ohio Manufacturing Counts report, manufacturing generated $137.9 billion in GDP in 2024, accounting for 16.5% of Ohio’s private economy — the largest share of any single industry in the state. Ohio ranks fifth nationally in manufacturing output and third in manufacturing employment.

The trades that benefit most from this environment are not the residential construction trades you might see highlighted in other regions. Ohio’s demand is concentrated in manufacturing-specific roles: welders who work in fabrication shops and on production lines, CNC machinists who program and operate precision cutting equipment, industrial maintenance electricians who keep factory systems running, and millwrights who install and align heavy machinery in new facilities. These are distinct career paths from residential plumbing or commercial construction, and they deserve to be understood on their own terms.

The manufacturing trades in highest demand

Welders — $51,000 national median salary

Welding is the connective tissue of manufacturing. Every steel structure, every automotive frame, every pressure vessel, and every piece of industrial machinery is held together by weld joints. In Ohio’s manufacturing economy — which spans automotive, aerospace, defense, and heavy equipment — skilled welders are perpetually in demand.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 2025) reports a national median annual wage of $51,000 for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers as of May 2024. The top 10 percent of welders earned more than $75,850 — a figure that reflects what certified pipe welders and aerospace welders can command in Ohio’s manufacturing corridor.

Manufacturing accounts for 61% of all welder employment nationally. In Ohio, which ranks third in the country for manufacturing employment, that means a very large and geographically distributed hiring pool. Specialty trade contractor welders earned a median of $57,310 in manufacturing environments — above the overall median — reflecting the premium that complex fabrication work commands.

Despite modest projected net job growth (2% from 2024–2034), the BLS projects approximately 45,600 welder job openings per year through the decade, largely to replace an aging workforce. In Ohio’s denser manufacturing regions, local openings consistently outpace local supply.

For welding programs, explore trade schools in Ohio offering welding or review the national welding program directory.

Machinists and CNC Operators — $56,150 median salary

Machinists set up and operate lathes, milling machines, grinders, and — increasingly — computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment to produce precision metal parts to extremely tight tolerances. A machinist in an automotive parts facility might produce engine components with tolerances measured in thousandths of an inch. A machinist at an aerospace supplier might work with exotic alloys on five-axis CNC machines that require deep programming knowledge.

The BLS (Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 2025) reports a national median of $56,150 for machinists and $63,180 for tool and die makers as of May 2024. In transportation equipment manufacturing — Ohio’s largest manufacturing employer — machinist median wages reach $60,320.

Ohio’s automotive supply chain runs deep. Honda has operated its Marysville Auto Plant since 1982 and employs over 11,000 people across its Ohio facilities. That network of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers — scattered across central and southwest Ohio — provides consistent machinist employment that is less cyclical than pure assembly work.

The national picture for machinist employment shows roughly flat growth (0% change for machinists through 2034), but that masks strong replacement demand: the BLS projects 34,200 machinist and tool-and-die-maker openings per year over the decade, essentially all from retirements and career changes. In Ohio, where the machinist workforce skews heavily toward experienced workers in their 50s and 60s, local replacement demand is particularly acute.

Machine tool technology programs are available at community colleges and technical centers across Ohio.

Industrial Maintenance Electricians — $62,350 median salary

Most people think of electricians as residential or commercial construction workers. But industrial maintenance electricians — who maintain, troubleshoot, and repair electrical systems inside factories, processing plants, and production facilities — occupy a distinct and often higher-paying niche. They work with three-phase power systems, PLCs (programmable logic controllers), motor drives, robotics, and control systems that commercial electricians rarely encounter.

The BLS reports a national median of $62,350 for electricians as of May 2024. Industrial maintenance electricians at major Ohio manufacturing facilities frequently earn above the median, as their specialized knowledge of production equipment makes them harder to replace than residential journeymen.

The demand driver for industrial electricians in Ohio is straightforward: every new factory needs electrical infrastructure, and every existing factory needs ongoing maintenance. When Intel completes its New Albany semiconductor campus and Honda’s battery plant reaches full production, both facilities will require permanent industrial electrical teams on staff for maintenance, expansion, and troubleshooting.

For training pathways, see electrical technology programs at Ohio community colleges and technical centers.

Millwrights — $65,170 median salary

Millwrights are among the highest-paid manufacturing trades workers, and they are also among the least well-known to people outside the industry. A millwright installs, aligns, disassembles, and moves industrial machinery. When a factory takes delivery of a 50-ton press, a robotic welding cell, or a CNC machining center, it is millwrights who uncrate it, set it on its foundations, level it to specifications, connect drive systems, and commission it for production.

The BLS reports millwrights earn a median of $65,170 annually, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $91,620. Millwrights in manufacturing — the largest employing sector — earned a median of $64,360 in May 2024. Union millwrights on prevailing wage projects can earn significantly more.

Most millwrights enter the trade through a 3–4 year apprenticeship program involving at least 144 hours of technical instruction per year and up to 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training annually. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters sponsors millwright apprenticeship programs in Ohio, with locals operating in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton.

The growth outlook for millwrights and industrial machinery mechanics is exceptional: the BLS projects 13% employment growth from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than average — with 54,200 openings projected annually. The ongoing adoption of automated manufacturing equipment, including robotic systems and conveyor automation, is the primary driver.

The EV and semiconductor investment wave

Two Ohio projects represent the largest private manufacturing investments in the state’s history, and both are generating substantial demand for skilled trades workers right now.

Intel’s $28 billion semiconductor campus in New Albany

In January 2022, Intel announced it would build its most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility in Licking County, Ohio, on a 926-acre site in the New Albany International Business Park. The planned investment is $28 billion, with two leading-edge semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs) at the core of the project.

According to JobsOhio, through 2025 more than 9.4 million work hours have been completed on-site, supported by hundreds of craft workers. The construction phase alone is projected to support 7,000 construction jobs. When operational, the campus is expected to create 3,000 direct Intel jobs and 10,000 indirect and support roles, with an average wage of $135,000 for Intel’s own workforce.

Intel’s construction contractor Bechtel has been actively recruiting craft workers — including ironworkers, pipefitters, electricians, and millwrights — for what is one of the most complex industrial construction projects in Ohio history. The site is on the New Albany International Business Park, which also hosts Amazon, Facebook, and Google data centers, creating a concentrated technology manufacturing cluster in central Ohio.

Intel committed $50 million for Ohio semiconductor manufacturing education and research programs, including partnering with Ohio community colleges to create the industry’s first one-year semiconductor technician program.

Honda’s $4.4 billion EV battery plant in Fayette County

Honda Motor Company, in partnership with LG Energy Solution, established L-H Battery Company (L-H) in January 2023. The joint venture’s primary project is a $4.4 billion EV battery manufacturing plant in Fayette County, Ohio — described by the Climate Power research group as the largest direct private investment in Fayette County’s history.

According to the East-West Center’s Asia Matters for America analysis, the JV has committed $3.5 billion in the battery plant specifically and expects to create 2,200 jobs. Honda is simultaneously investing $1 billion in upgrading its existing Marysville, East Liberty, and Anna plants to enable mixed-powertrain production — electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and internal combustion — on the same assembly lines.

Honda has been manufacturing in Ohio since 1979 (motorcycles) and 1982 (automobiles), and the company currently employs over 11,000 Ohioans. The EV hub investments are described by Honda as the foundation for the company’s North American EV production strategy.

Both the Intel and Honda projects require — during construction and permanently thereafter — large numbers of industrial maintenance electricians, millwrights, machinists, and welders. The proximity of these projects to Ohio’s existing technical training infrastructure is an advantage for students who enroll now.

Manufacturing trades vs. construction trades: key differences

Many people considering a trade career conflate manufacturing trades with construction trades, but the day-to-day reality of these careers differs significantly. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right training path.

Work environment. Manufacturing trades workers typically work inside climate-controlled or partially climate-controlled facilities. A machinist at a Honda supplier plant works indoors, in a controlled environment, on predictable shift schedules. A residential electrician works outdoors in all weather, on different job sites every week, with more variable conditions. Neither is categorically better — but for some people, the indoor, facility-based nature of manufacturing work is a decisive factor.

Schedule predictability. Manufacturing facilities typically run on fixed shifts — first, second, or third — with consistent hours. Workers know when they are working weeks in advance. Construction work, by contrast, is more project-based and can involve variable hours, travel to different job sites, and layoff periods between projects.

Specialization depth. Manufacturing trades tend toward deeper specialization over time. A CNC machinist becomes expert in a specific machine family or material type. An industrial electrician develops deep knowledge of a facility’s specific PLC systems. This depth of specialization typically translates to higher wages for experienced workers and makes them less interchangeable — which creates stronger employer retention incentives.

Union presence. Both construction and manufacturing trades have union presence, but the character differs. The International Association of Machinists (IAM), United Auto Workers (UAW), and United Steelworkers are heavily represented in Ohio’s manufacturing sector. IBEW Local unions cover industrial maintenance electricians. Union representation tends to provide above-median wages, defined benefit pensions, and strong apprenticeship programs.

Entry pathways. Both sectors have apprenticeship programs, but manufacturing also offers a strong community college pathway. Ohio’s community and technical colleges offer two-year associate degree programs in CNC machining, welding technology, and industrial maintenance that are specifically designed to feed local manufacturing employers.

Apprenticeship and technical training pathways in Ohio

Ohio has one of the strongest technical training ecosystems in the Midwest for manufacturing trades.

Ohio Technical Centers (OTCs) are operated by Ohio’s 88 county-based educational service centers and offer short-term, skills-focused programs in welding, CNC machining, HVAC, and industrial maintenance. According to the Ohio Department of Higher Education, OTCs offer programming in technical skill trades including welding, CNC machining, and related industrial fields, with programs typically running 6–12 months and designed for rapid workforce entry.

Community colleges across Ohio offer two-year technical degrees and certificate programs closely aligned with manufacturing employer needs. Columbus State Community College’s WorkAdvance Manufacturing & Production program is one example, offering accelerated hands-on training for direct employer placement. Sinclair Community College (Dayton), Lorain County Community College, and Stark State College (Canton) all offer strong industrial maintenance, CNC, and welding programs.

Registered apprenticeships remain the gold standard for millwrights, ironworkers, and skilled industrial electricians. Manufacturing Works, a Cleveland-based nonprofit, operates one of Ohio’s leading registered apprenticeship programs in manufacturing, connecting Northeast Ohio employers with apprentices in precision machining, welding, and industrial maintenance. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS) has been working to expand registered apprenticeships by connecting manufacturers with federal incentive funding for hiring apprentices.

Ohio TechNet is a statewide consortium of educational partners focused on preparing the manufacturing workforce, linking employers to training institutions across the state.

For prospective students, the most direct path is to identify one or two manufacturing-heavy employers within commuting distance, confirm which credentials they prefer, and enroll in the community college or technical center program aligned with those credentials. Many Ohio community colleges have explicit placement partnerships with major regional employers including Honda, Whirlpool, Parker Hannifin, and Lincoln Electric.

Explore top-ranked trade schools in Ohio and compare programs on the best colleges rankings to find programs with strong employer connections in your region.

Regional breakdown: Where manufacturing trades jobs are concentrated

Ohio’s manufacturing economy is geographically diverse, with distinct clusters in different regions of the state.

Northeast Ohio — Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown

Northeast Ohio has the deepest manufacturing heritage of any region in the state, built on steel, polymers (Akron was once the “Rubber Capital of the World”), and precision machining. The region hosts a dense cluster of aerospace and defense suppliers, medical device manufacturers, and polymer processing facilities. Cleveland-Cliffs (formerly ArcelorMittal Cleveland) remains a significant steel producer.

Manufacturing Works operates primarily in this region and has been a key apprenticeship intermediary for decades. Stark State College and Lorain County Community College offer strong manufacturing technology programs. The region’s existing industrial base means consistent demand for machinists and industrial electricians, even without the headline greenfield investments.

Central Ohio — Columbus, New Albany, Marysville

Central Ohio is where the most dramatic new investment is concentrated. Intel’s New Albany campus is in Licking County, just east of Columbus. Honda’s existing Marysville Auto Plant, East Liberty Auto Plant, and Anna Engine Plant form a triangle in and around Union County, northwest of Columbus. The new Honda/LG battery plant in Fayette County is south of Columbus near Washington Court House.

The Columbus area is also home to a rapidly expanding data center corridor (Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft) that creates ongoing demand for industrial electricians. Columbus State Community College and Ohio State University’s technical programs serve this region.

Southwest Ohio — Dayton, Cincinnati

Dayton was historically the epicenter of American manufacturing innovation — the Wright Brothers built their bicycle shop here, and General Motors has operated assembly facilities in the region for generations. The Dayton area today hosts aerospace and defense suppliers (serving Wright-Patterson Air Force Base), automotive parts manufacturers, and consumer goods producers.

Cincinnati and its surrounding region in southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky form one of the Midwest’s most active manufacturing clusters. Procter & Gamble, GE Aerospace (formerly GE Aviation), and a dense network of automotive suppliers all operate here. Sinclair Community College and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College are well-positioned technical institutions for this market.

Manufacturing trades in neighboring Midwest states

Ohio does not exist in isolation — the broader Midwest manufacturing belt, spanning Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, shares many of Ohio’s dynamics. Prospective students in border regions of these states should consider opportunities across state lines.

Michigan has been the most active battleground for EV battery plant construction. General Motors’ Ultium Cells joint venture has opened battery facilities, and Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan project in Marshall is underway, though it has been scaled back from original projections. Michigan’s automotive supplier network — numbering in the thousands of companies — consistently employs welders, machinists, and industrial electricians at rates comparable to Ohio. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing are the primary hiring centers.

Indiana hosts major facilities for Stellantis, Honda (Lincoln), Subaru (Lafayette), and an expanding EV battery sector. Kokomo has been a significant EV battery investment site. Indiana’s lower cost of living relative to Columbus and Cleveland can make wages stretch further.

How to get started in Ohio manufacturing trades

The entry pathway for manufacturing trades is more straightforward than many people assume.

Step 1: Identify your target trade. The four trades covered in this article — welding, CNC machining, industrial maintenance electrician, and millwright — have different training timelines and suit different personality types. Welding and CNC machining can be entered relatively quickly through 6–18 month programs. Industrial maintenance and millwright work rewards people who enjoy diagnosing complex mechanical and electrical problems. Visit a local community college or OTC for a program tour before committing.

Step 2: Choose between a community college program and an apprenticeship. Community college programs provide credentials in 6–24 months and are often partially or fully covered by Ohio’s Choose Ohio First scholarships, Pell Grants, or employer tuition assistance. Apprenticeships start you earning a wage immediately but require finding a sponsoring employer. For millwright work, apprenticeship is the standard path.

Step 3: Target employers early. Ohio’s major manufacturers — Honda, Parker Hannifin, Lincoln Electric, Whirlpool, GrafTech, Materion, and others — actively recruit from community college programs. Many programs have advisory boards composed of local employers. Talk to your program’s career services office about which employers hire their graduates.

Step 4: Get AWS or NIMS certified. For welders, AWS certification (American Welding Society) is the industry standard and signals competency to employers. For machinists, the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) offers credentials in CNC machining, turning, and milling that are recognized by major Ohio manufacturers.

Step 5: Consider the IBEW apprenticeship for industrial electrical work. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers sponsors 5-year apprenticeships that include significant industrial work. Local IBEW unions in Ohio operate in Cleveland (Local 38), Columbus (Local 683), Cincinnati (Local 212), and Dayton (Local 82). Journeyman industrial electricians who complete these programs enter a labor market with very low unemployment and strong wages.

The case for manufacturing trades in 2026

The narrative about manufacturing trades in Ohio is not just about job availability — it is about career quality. These are not precarious gig-economy roles. A CNC machinist at a Honda supplier plant in Marysville with 10 years of experience is earning above $65,000 with full benefits, a defined-contribution retirement plan, and genuine job security rooted in capital-intensive equipment that cannot be easily automated or offshored.

The OMA’s 2025 annual report notes that manufacturing generated $137.9 billion in Ohio’s GDP in 2024 — a figure that reflects the sheer scale and economic weight of this sector. For students willing to invest 6–24 months in technical training, manufacturing trades in Ohio offer starting wages above the national median for all occupations ($49,500), with clear advancement pathways.

The Intel campus, Honda’s EV hub, and the broader reshoring wave are not abstract economic statistics. They represent machines that need to be installed, systems that need to be maintained, and parts that need to be made — by people with the skills to do the work. Ohio is investing heavily in building that workforce. The question is whether you will be part of it.

Browse trade schools in Ohio to find manufacturing programs near you, and review the welding, machine tool technology, and electrical technology program guides for detailed information on each career path.

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