Booming Arkansas Industry: Manufacturing
By Arkansas Next on Monday, October 21, 2024
Manufacturing by the Numbers
► 1 in 8 Arkansas jobs are in the manufacturing industry
► 3,000 estimated number of manufacturers in Arkansas
► 161,800 - estimated manufacturing jobs in Arkansas in 2024
► $2.4 billion - value added to the economy compromising
► $66,795 - average annual compensation in Arkansas manufacturing
► 13,266 - Springdale is Arkansas’ top city for industrial jobs with 13,266.
► 11,486 - Little Rock is another top city for manufacturing jobs with more than 11,000.
► 10,560 - Fort Smith is a great place to find work in manufacturing, with more than 10,000 jobs.
► 47% of Arkansas manufacturers work with a high school diploma or less
► Largest Arkansas Manufacturers by Number of Employees:
- Tyson Foods Inc. — 3,000
- Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. — 1,800
- Cooper Tire & rubber Co. — 1,760
- ABB Motors & Mechanical Inc. — 1,675
- McKee Foods Corp. — 1,500
► Top 5 manufacturing sectors in Arkansas:
- Food & tobacco
- Primary metal
- Fabricated metal
- Wood product
- Machinery
(Sources: nam.org, arkansasedc.com, themanufacturinginstitute.org, mni.net, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau, arkansaspolicyfoundation.org)
Meet The Pros
Made in Arkansas
Did you know that so many well-known products are made so close to home? Check them out, everything from cupcakes to power boats.
Steel Jobs Boom in Northeast Arkansas
More Than A Thousand To Hire (With Big Salaries!)
New rebar manufacturing company Hybar started construction on a $700 million mill in northeast Arkansas in 2023. The project will produce 630,000 tons of rebar annually and is expected to create at least 140 jobs that will pay an average salary of $125,000, along with 60 jobs paying $75,000 annually, according to the Arkansas Department of Commerce. Two miles away, U.S. Steel’s Big River Steel facility is adding a $450 million electrical steel line. Meanwhile, the company’s new $3 billion Big River 2 mill (said to be the most advanced in North America) is also under construction. It’s helping add 900 jobs—700 full-time and 200 contract workers. Nucor-Hickman and Nucor-Yamato also have steel plants in nearby Blytheville—foundational facilities in northeast Arkansas’ steel boom.
► 4000 - estimated total employment at existing and planned steel mills in Mississippi County
Go to Steel Making Boot Camp at ANC
The Arkansas Office of Skills Development (OSD) recently awarded Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) in Blytheville a $1.2 million grant to create the Arkansas Steel Making Boot Camp. Designed to meet the high demand for skilled workers in northeast Arkansas’ growing steel making industry, the boot camp will provide entry-level knowledge to those interested in the field. Graduates of the two-week, 80-hour boot camp receive an OSHA-10 General Industry Certification, first aid/CPR certification and a certificate of program completion.
Learn more: arsteelboot@smail.anc.edu.
Not-So-Lost Art: Tool & Die Makers
The Job: Operate machine tools, laid out metal stock, and analyzed specifications. Fit assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools and other machinist hand tools.
► High-End Earners (Top 10%) - $63,550
► Median Earners (Top 50%) - $46,850
► Education Required - Postsecondary Certificate & On-The-Job Training
► Job Demand in Arkansas - Employment is Projected to Increase 2% by 2030.
► 580 Tool and Die Makers are Expected to be Employed in Arkansas by 2030.
(Source: careeronestop.org)
More Jobs in Manufacturing
| Jobs | What They Do | Education Level Needed | Median Salary in AR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Engineer | Design or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. May work with designers to refine product designs to increase productivity and decrease costs. | Bachelor’s degree | $129,390 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologist And Technician | Apply engineering theory to problems of industrial manufacturing production under the direction of engineering staff. | Associate degree | $129,500 |
| Millwright | Install, take apart or move equipment and machinery according to layout plans or blueprints. | High school diploma or GED | $64,180 |
| Welding, Soldering, And Brazing Machine Technician Operator And Tender | Operate and tend to milling and plans for machines to mill, plane, shape, groove or profile metal or plastic work pieces. | High school diploma or GED | $52,080 |
| Photonics Engineer | Build and maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses or mirrors. | Bachelor’s degree | $118,190 |
| Team Assembler | Work as part of a team with the responsibility of assembling an entire product or one component of a product. | High school diploma or GED | $46,590 |
| Industrial Production Manager | Direct or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products with cost, quality and quantity specifications in mind. | Bachelor’s degree | $177,110 |
| Quality Control Systems Manager* | Ensures employees compliance with regulations and standards are being met, such as the FDA and ICH guidance, plus quality control system. | Bachelor’s degree | $177,110 |
| Robotics Technician | Build, install, test or maintain robotic equipment or related automated production systems. | Associate degree | $104,690 |
(Source: careeronestop.org)
