Careers in Manufacturing

Develop Skills
Build Experience

How can I develop skills and build experience?

For High School Students

Hobbies, clubs, and extra-curricular activities are an easy way to explore interests, develop skills, and build experience at little to no cost. Look for programs like robotics challenges, coding projects, and car clubs.

Ask about the free career and technical education programs at your school. Texas schools offer high school students opportunities to prepare for manufacturing jobs and earn industry certifications that can help you jump-start your career, including:

• Advanced Manufacturing and Machinery Mechanics
• Manufacturing Technology
• Welding
• Engineering

Some districts also offer special magnet schools or academies for students interested in manufacturing or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) like Austin ISD Advanced Manufacturing Academy at Austin Community College.

</ul

For College Students and Adult Learners

• Austin Community College
  • Award Paths:
• Advanced Manufacturing + Engineering Technology Programs
  • Automation, Robotics and Controls Technology Specialization (AAS)
  • Electronics Technician Specialization (AAS)
    Electronics Technician Specialization – Level 1 Certificate
  • Engineering Technology Specialization (AAS)
    Engineering Technology Specialization – Level 2 Certificate
  • Manufacturing Technology – Advanced Manufacturing Specialization Level 1 Certificate
  • Manufacturing Technology – Advanced Manufacturing Specialization(AAS)
  • Manufacturing Technology – Medical Devices Technology Level 1 Certificate
  • Manufacturing Technology – Medical Devices Technology Specialization(AAS)
    • Certified Production Technician (Certificate)
    • Computer Aided Drafting (CAD)
    • Computer Information Technology programs
    • Engineering (AS)
• Specialized Offerings:
  • Austin ISD Advanced Manufacturing Academy at Austin Community College
  • Capital IDEA Career Expressway
  • Technician/Pre-Engineering (TPE) Institute
  • Texas A&M Chevron Engineering Academy
  • Samsung Apprenticeship

• Concordia University Texas
  • Computer Science

• Huston-Tillotson University
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Computer Science

• Texas State Technical College – Williamson County
  • Industrial Systems
  • Precision Machining Technology
  • Welding Technology

• Texas State University
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering Technology
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Manufacturing Engineering

• The University of Texas at Austin
  • Cockrell School of Engineering
  • Advanced Manufacturing and Design Center
  • Computer Science
  • Management Information Systems

You may also want to explore privately-owned Career Schools and Colleges.

It’s important to note that program types, costs and student outcomes vary significantly between schools and colleges. The Texas Workforce Commission’s Directory of Licensed Career Schools & Colleges includes information about costs, completion rates, and employment rates that can help you to make an informed decision about private Career Schools and Colleges.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) can provide information about graduation rates and outcomes for students at 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities.

If you can’t afford to pay for education and training out-of- pocket, explore these options for financing your education and training:

• Aspiring manufacturing professionals from Travis or Williamson County can choose the Manufacturing Technology with Advanced Manufacturing Specialization associate degree at Austin Community College and receive all of the benefits of Capital IDEA’s Career Expressway program, including free tuition, textbooks, child care assistance and guidance.

• Federal Financial Aid + Loan Programs

• Your local workforce solutions can provide you with information about federally-funded training vouchers and State-of-Texas-funded education and training programs. Visit Workforce Solutions Capital Area (Travis County) or Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (Bastrop County, Hays County, Blanco County, Burnet County, Caldwell County, Fayette County, Lee County, Llano County, Williamson County, and Marble Falls) for more information.

• Many companies offer tuition assistance benefits that allow you to have some or even all of your training paid for by your employer.

• If you’re a military veteran, you may be able to qualify for GI Bill benefits to help pay for your education and training. Learn more about special opportunities for military veterans interested in pursuing manufacturing careers.

• Reach out to the schools you’re interested in attending and ask about their grant, scholarship, and tuition payment plan options.

• Internships and co-ops provide college students with an opportunity to build skills and work experience in a real-world setting, often for pay.

• ACC Engineering Technology Internships
• UT Austin Cockrell School of Engineering Co-Ops and Internships

For Working Adults

Looking to gain work experience in manufacturing? Workforce Solutions Capital Area (Travis County) and Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (Bastrop County, Hays County, Blanco County, Burnet County, Caldwell County, Fayette County, Lee County, Llano County, Williamson County, and Marble Falls) can help you learn about current manufacturing job openings.

Community-based nonprofits sometimes provide free training and career coaching for adults interested in launching manufacturing careers, such as Skillpoint Alliance’s Advanced Manufacturing Program (CPT+).

Need full-time work but want to develop new skills as well? Consider applying for a registered apprenticeship. Apprenticeships combine paid work experience with structured, formal training, allowing you to gradually increase your skills and wages over several years. Apprenticeship programs are relatively uncommon in the Austin region, so admission may be competitive.

• Samsung Apprenticeship
• Learn More…