Advanced Manufacturing Education and Workforce by State
Education output, manufacturing scale, weekly pay, and state counterexamples show why no single measure defines manufacturing strength.
What education and workforce populations make a defensible state comparison?
The education measure combines first-major awards in Engineering Technologies and Related Fields with Precision Production. It covers awards conferred from July 2024 through June 2025 in the provisional 2025–26 IPEDS release. The workforce measure is private manufacturing employment in the third month of 2025’s fourth quarter. It describes industry scale, not specific occupations or current hiring demand.
Which states report the most selected manufacturing-related awards?
Texas led with 22,143 awards, followed by California with 11,347 and Florida with 10,428. Illinois reported 8,173 and North Carolina 7,637. These are reported completions in two broad field families; they do not establish current catalog offerings or the number of graduates who entered manufacturing.
Which states have the largest private manufacturing workforces?
California had 1,199,268 private manufacturing workers, Texas 987,389, Ohio 673,573, Michigan 582,459, and Illinois 565,328. Alaska and Wyoming are excluded because their manufacturing employment values were suppressed. Suppression is not treated as zero.
Where do education output, workforce scale, and weekly pay point in different directions?
Texas led award output, while California led both manufacturing employment and average weekly pay. Ohio had the third-largest workforce but fewer selected awards than eight states. Florida had the third-most awards but ranked below several states in manufacturing employment. New Mexico had the most selected awards per 1,000 manufacturing workers, but that descriptive ratio is not a shortage, placement, or employer-demand measure.
What does the combined state evidence reveal about advanced manufacturing education and work?
State manufacturing strength has more than one dimension
Texas led selected advanced-manufacturing award output, while California had the largest private manufacturing workforce and the highest average weekly pay. States such as Ohio and Michigan had very large manufacturing workforces but more modest selected award totals. Florida and Kentucky had comparatively high award output relative to their manufacturing employment.
| State | Selected awards | Private manufacturing employment | Average weekly pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 22,143 | 987,389 | $1,911 |
| California | 11,347 | 1,199,268 | $2,738 |
| Florida | 10,428 | 425,836 | $1,784 |
| Illinois | 8,173 | 565,328 | $1,764 |
| North Carolina | 7,637 | 459,281 | $1,532 |
| Ohio | 6,325 | 673,573 | $1,591 |
| Michigan | 4,027 | 582,459 | $1,727 |
The comparison covers 48 states with observed values in both sources. Alaska and Wyoming are excluded because their manufacturing employment values were suppressed. Missing values are not zero.
The award measure combines two broad field families: Engineering Technologies and Related Fields, and Precision Production. Those awards are reported completions for July 2024 through June 2025 in a provisional IPEDS release. They do not establish current program offerings, graduate destinations, or the number of entrants into manufacturing.
The workforce measure covers private manufacturing employment in the third month of 2025’s fourth quarter. Average weekly pay is an industry measure, not a wage for graduates from the selected fields.
| Question | Source and period | Coverage | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selected education output | IPEDS completions, July 2024–June 2025 | First-major awards in two field families | Provisional; awards are not offerings or placement |
| Manufacturing scale | QCEW, fourth quarter 2025 | Private manufacturing employment in 48 states with observed values | Industry employment is not job openings or occupational demand |
| Manufacturing pay | QCEW, fourth quarter 2025 | Average weekly pay for the same state-industry records | Industry average is not graduate earnings |
| Cross-source comparison | State location in both sources | Same state name, separate native populations | Does not track people from college into work |
The scatterplot is best used to identify states for closer study. It does not rank overall manufacturing strength and cannot establish shortages, placement, or causation.
State credential output and private manufacturing employment, 2025
Scatterplot of 48 states. The horizontal axis shows 2025 first-major awards in two field families. The vertical axis shows private manufacturing employment in the third month of 2025’s fourth quarter. Texas has the most awards. California has the largest manufacturing employment level. Alaska and Wyoming are excluded because their employment values were suppressed. Each downloadable row contains the state, awards, and employment.
| State Name | First-major awards, 2025 | Private manufacturing employment | Ipeds Collection Cycle | Ipeds Reference Period | Ipeds Release | Ipeds Release Stage | Manufacturing Avg Weekly Pay | Qcew Coverage | Qcew Quarter | Qcew Release | Qcew Year | State Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas -- Statewide | 22,143 | 987,389 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1911 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | TX |
| California -- Statewide | 11,347 | 1,199,268 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 2738 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | CA |
| Florida -- Statewide | 10,428 | 425,836 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1784 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | FL |
| Illinois -- Statewide | 8,173 | 565,328 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1764 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | IL |
| North Carolina -- Statewide | 7,637 | 459,281 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1532 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | NC |
| Kentucky -- Statewide | 7,280 | 249,859 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1537 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | KY |
| Alabama -- Statewide | 6,858 | 284,061 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1549 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | AL |
| Georgia -- Statewide | 6,610 | 421,886 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1491 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | GA |
| Ohio -- Statewide | 6,325 | 673,573 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1591 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | OH |
| Louisiana -- Statewide | 5,226 | 140,302 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1849 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | LA |
| Indiana -- Statewide | 5,199 | 518,027 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1583 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | IN |
| Virginia -- Statewide | 4,602 | 235,274 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1583 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | VA |
| Arizona -- Statewide | 4,272 | 194,415 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1999 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | AZ |
| Michigan -- Statewide | 4,027 | 582,459 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1727 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | MI |
| New York -- Statewide | 3,932 | 398,148 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1758 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | NY |
| South Carolina -- Statewide | 3,731 | 262,951 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1548 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | SC |
| Wisconsin -- Statewide | 3,697 | 455,700 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1536 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | WI |
| Arkansas -- Statewide | 3,398 | 157,273 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1270 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | AR |
| Colorado -- Statewide | 3,244 | 145,469 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1885 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | CO |
| Tennessee -- Statewide | 3,207 | 349,265 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1554 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | TN |
| Pennsylvania -- Statewide | 3,109 | 554,757 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1611 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | PA |
| Washington -- Statewide | 3,083 | 266,551 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 2070 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | WA |
| Kansas -- Statewide | 2,851 | 174,182 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1561 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | KS |
| Oklahoma -- Statewide | 2,836 | 141,274 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1502 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | OK |
| Missouri -- Statewide | 2,707 | 283,596 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1554 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | MO |
| Minnesota -- Statewide | 2,581 | 314,770 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1690 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | MN |
| Utah -- Statewide | 2,380 | 154,059 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1550 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | UT |
| Mississippi -- Statewide | 2,259 | 137,940 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1345 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | MS |
| Iowa -- Statewide | 2,158 | 214,837 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1614 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | IA |
| New Jersey -- Statewide | 1,993 | 248,915 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1974 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | NJ |
| Oregon -- Statewide | 1,365 | 174,750 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1792 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | OR |
| Nebraska -- Statewide | 1,282 | 102,567 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1360 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | NE |
| New Mexico -- Statewide | 1,257 | 28,020 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1472 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | NM |
| Massachusetts -- Statewide | 1,217 | 225,336 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 2162 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | MA |
| Connecticut -- Statewide | 1,199 | 152,487 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 2077 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | CT |
| Maryland -- Statewide | 1,128 | 113,464 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1949 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | MD |
| Nevada -- Statewide | 925 | 69,298 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1598 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | NV |
| Idaho -- Statewide | 758 | 74,621 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 2241 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | ID |
| West Virginia -- Statewide | 716 | 44,590 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1515 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | WV |
| North Dakota -- Statewide | 568 | 27,751 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1492 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | ND |
| South Dakota -- Statewide | 443 | 44,394 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1318 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | SD |
| Montana -- Statewide | 412 | 20,856 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1464 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | MT |
| Maine -- Statewide | 406 | 51,005 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1461 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | ME |
| New Hampshire -- Statewide | 279 | 67,415 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1923 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | NH |
| Rhode Island -- Statewide | 186 | 39,302 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1556 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | RI |
| Vermont -- Statewide | 134 | 27,473 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1586 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | VT |
| Hawaii -- Statewide | 128 | 13,055 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1320 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | HI |
| Delaware -- Statewide | 102 | 26,405 | 2025-26 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 | provisional | 1619 | observed | 4 | 2025-snapshot-2026-08-29-8b833689b8 | 2025 | DE |