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Manufacturing technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a manufacturing technician. Manufacturing technicians usually study electrical engineering, business, or electrical engineering technology. 39% of manufacturing technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 31% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 19,046 real manufacturing technician resumes to see exactly what manufacturing technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for manufacturing technicians are the DeVry University and the DeVry University.
There are also many online manufacturing technician courses to help get the education required to be a manufacturing technician.
There are certain manufacturing technician certifications that you should consider. These manufacturing technician certifications include Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma).
What education do you need to become a manufacturing technician?
What degree do you need to be a manufacturing technician?
- Bachelor's, 39%
- Associate, 31%
- High School Diploma, 18%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become a manufacturing technician?
Most common colleges for manufacturing technicians
| Manufacturing technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| DeVry University | 15.67% |
| University of Phoenix | 15.26% |
| University of California - Davis | 7.12% |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 6.82% |
| University of Portland | 5.80% |
Best majors for manufacturing technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineering | 19.3% |
| 2 | Business | 15.5% |
| 3 | Electrical Engineering Technology | 10.1% |
| 4 | Biology | 8.5% |
| 5 | General Studies | 5.6% |
Best colleges for manufacturing technicians
The best colleges for manufacturing technicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A manufacturing technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for manufacturing technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become manufacturing technicians.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
5. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Enrollment
2,120
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
8. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Lincoln, NE • Private
In-state tuition
$9,242
Enrollment
20,592
9. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
10. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
20 best online courses for manufacturing technicians
Advertising disclosure
1. Sensor Manufacturing and Process Control
"Sensor Manufacturing and Process Control" can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5343, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. This is our fourth course in our specialization on Embedding Sensor and Motors. To get the most out of this course, you should first take our first course entitled "Sensors and Sensor Circuits", our second course entitled "Motor and Motor Control Circuits", and our third course entitled "Pressure, Force, Motion, and Humidity...
2. Simulation of Manufacturing Process Using R Simmer
Welcome to "Simulation of Manufacturing Process Using R Simmer". This is a project-based course which should take about 2 hours to finish. Before diving into the project, please take a look at the course objectives and structure. By the end of this project, you will gain introductiory knowledge of Discrete Event Simulation, Manufacturing Process Analysis, be able to use R Studio and Simmer library, create statistical variables required for simulation, define process trajectory, define and...
3. Manufacturing process selection and Design for manufacturing
Learn about the basics of selecting process for a mechanical design and the principles of design for Manufacturing...
4. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...
5. Process Capability Analysis
A Powerful Tool Set for Understanding your Manufacturing Process Relative to Your Customers' Quality Expectations...
6. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development
Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...
7. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!
Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...
8. Statistical Process Control (SPC) Using Microsoft Excel
A Deep Dive into Analyzing your Process Data to Drive Quality Improvements within your Organization...
9. Process Mining with Celonis
Learn and practice how to combine data science and process mapping techniques to visualize processes with real data...
10. Process Improvement
#1 Process Improvement course: The step by step guide on how to deliver effective and lasting process improvements...
11. Basic Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
Learn the good practices that applies to the pharmaceutical industry...
12. Medical Device Process Validation. ISO 13485. IQ OQ PQ.
Validate a process to gain approval to sell medical devices in the EU, U.S. & Internationally. Compliance to ISO 13485...
13. Batch Processing with Spring Batch & Spring Boot
Batch Processing of Data with Java Spring Framework & My SQL. Item Reader, Item Writer, Item Processor & JPA Reader...
14. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
15. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
16. ISO 13485 - IQOQPQ - Process Validation for Medical Devices
Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) & Performance Qualification (PQ) Medical Devices...
17. Process/Chemical Engineering - BOOTCAMP 2021
The only course with over 10 hours practical knowledge about main process equipment Design, Control and Safety...
18. Advanced Process Control & Safety Instrumented Systems SIS
Learn how the main process equipment such as chemical reactors , pumps , compressors & heat exchangers are controlled...
19. Business Process Mapping
The complete guide to map any business process...
20. Mechanical design and Product development process
Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...
Top 10 most affordable universities for manufacturing technicians
The most affordable schools for manufacturing technicians are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for manufacturing technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for manufacturing technicians.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for manufacturing technicians
The hardest universities for manufacturing technicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for manufacturing technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for manufacturing technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
9. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
10. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for manufacturing technicians
The easiest schools for manufacturing technicians to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, capitol technology university, and oregon institute of technology.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a manufacturing technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for manufacturing technicians.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
3. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
6. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
7. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
8. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
9. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)
Lemont Furnace, PA • Private
Admissions rate
80%
SAT average
1,067
10. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois
DuBois, PA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,079
Average manufacturing technician salary by education level
| Manufacturing technician education level | Manufacturing technician salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $41,314 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $37,630 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,314 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,891 |
Manufacturing technician education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025