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Advanced Manufacturing is a diverse, growing industry in the North Far North region. This industry encompasses the creation, repair, and maintenance of equipment used in manufacturing goods.
The Far North and North (Greater Sacramento) subregions have been identified as strategic growth sectors for manufacturing in the Jobs First California Economic Blueprint. Greater Sacramento is a hub for high-tech hardware and software, with 26 times more concentrated semiconductor growth capital in the Greater Sacramento subregion than the U.S. average. Thanks in part to funding from the CHIPS and Science Act and Cal Competes tax credits, the Greater Sacramento area plans to invest over $2 billion in semiconductor projects in the region. Similarly, the Far North’s wealth of natural resources makes it an ideal location to engage in value-added manufacturing.
With the goal of making businesses more competitive, advanced manufacturing utilizes automated, cutting-edge technologies, such as computer numerical control (CNC) machining, 3-D printing, robotics, and Computer-aided design and drafting.
Because advanced manufacturing is utilized in all facets of business – from testing brand-new ideas to getting products to market more cheaply and efficiently – this industry offers a wide array of careers suited to diverse interests and skill sets.
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Sources: Lightcast 2025.3; QCEW, non-QCEW, Self-Employed. Compiled by the North/Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research. State Economic Blueprint – California Jobs First, February 2025. https://jobsfirst.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/Economic-Blueprint.pdf.
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.
Assembly Supervisor, Line Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor, Molding Supervisor, Plant Supervisor, Production Manager, Production Supervisor, Quality Assurance Supervisor (QA Supervisor)
Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.
Inspector, QA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor), QA Inspector (Quality Assurance Inspector), QA Technician (Quality Assurance Technician), QC Technician (Quality Control Technician), Quality Auditor, Quality Control Inspector (QC Inspector), Quality Inspector, Quality Technician, Test Technician
Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
Assembly Line Brazer, Brazer, Fabrication Welder, Maintenance Welder, MIG Welder (Metal Inert Gas Welder), Solderer, TIG Welder (Tungsten Inert Gas Welder), Welder, Welder Fitter, Wirer
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.
Industrial Machinery Mechanic, Industrial Mechanic, Loom Fixer, Loom Technician, Machine Adjuster, Machine Mechanic, Maintenance Technician, Mechanic, Overhauler, Sewing Machine Mechanic
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist), CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist), Gear Machinist, Machine Repair Person, Machinist, Maintenance Machinist, Manual Lathe Machinist, Production Machinist, Tool Room Machinist
Operate computer-controlled tools, machines, or robots to machine or process parts, tools, or other work pieces made of metal, plastic, wood, stone, or other materials. May also set up and maintain equipment.
Brake Press Operator, Computer Numerical Control Lathe Operator (CNC Lathe Operator), Computer Numerical Control Machine Operator (CNC Machine Operator), Computer Numerical Control Machinist (CNC Machinist), Computer Numerical Control Mill Operator (CNC Mill Operator), Computer Numerical Control Operator (CNC Operator), Computer Numerical Control Set-Up and Operator (CNC Set-Up and Operator), Machine Operator, Machine Set-Up Operator, Machinist
Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.
Communications Technologist, Electrical Engineering Technician, Electrical Technician, Electronics Engineering Technician, Electronics Technician, Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Engineering Technologist, System Technologist, Technologist
Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
Bed Laborer, Caster, Fabricator, Injection Molding Machine Operator, Machine Operator, Mold Mechanic, Molder, Molding Line Operator, Press Operator
Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
Control Valve Mechanic, Control Valve Technician, Electric Meter Technician, Instrument and Electrical Technician (I and E Technician), Instrument Technician, Measurement Technician, Meter Technician, Service Technician, Valve Technician, Water Plant Maintenance Mechanic
Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.
Chemical Operator, Chlorination Operator, Multiskill Operator, Outside Operator, Process Operator, Spray Dry Operator, Vessel Operator
Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.
Control Technician, E and I Mechanic (Electrical and Instrument Mechanic), E and I Mechanic (Electrical and Instrumentation Mechanic), Electrical and Instrument Technician (E and I Tech), Electrical Maintenance Technician, Electronic Technician, I and C Tech (Instrument and Control Technician), Instrument and Electrical Technician (I and E Tech), Repair Technician, Scale Technician
Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.
Appliance Mechanic, Appliance Repair Mechanic, Appliance Repair Technician (Appliance Repair Tech), Appliance Service Technician, Appliance Technician (Appliance Tech), Repair Man, Repair Technician, Service Technician (Service Tech), Vacuum Repairer
The North region encompasses seven counties (El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba).
The Far North region encompasses 15 counties (Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity).
Specialized skills are specific to the occupation, or group of occupations, and represent job-specific competencies.
Technical skills refer to the specific software and technology regularly encountered on the job.
Employability skills (sometimes referred to as “common skills”) are foundational skills that cross occupations and industries. Many common skills, like, communication and team work, are also considered soft skills.