SECTION 3 Pay Rate Benchmarks by Role The table below shows Lightcast's median advertised pay for the roles employers are hiring most, based on Q3 job postings that listed pay. Our planning guidance reflects what we are seeing in the market for each role: how quickly it fills, where pay differs across industries, and where offers are most likely to fall short. Manufacturing and warehouse roles Role Market median advertised Eastridge Planning Guidance Maintenance Technicians $30.46/hr 3,058 postings The most posted title in manufacturing, from more than 2,400 companies, and it takes 24 days to fill. Maintenance mechanics post higher at $32.12/hr, so budget $30 or more for experienced technicians. CNC Machinists $29.35/hr ($61,056/yr) 824 postings One of the slowest skilled roles to fill at 28 days. CNC operators post about $5/hr less at $24.06/hr, so keep machinist and operator roles in separate pay bands. Quality Inspectors $25.05/hr 686 postings Pays nearly $4/hr more than machine operators and fills in 19 days. Postings at engineering and R&D firms take 26 days, so expect longer searches in technical settings. Machine Operators $21.35/hr 2,347 postings The second most posted title in manufacturing, from more than 1,700 companies, and it takes 21 days to fill. An offer below $21.35 is under what half of advertised postings pay. Material Handlers $20.98/hr 1,832 postings The median holds at $20.98 when transportation and warehousing employers are included, so plants and distribution centers compete for these workers at the same pay level. Assemblers $20.86/hr 1,110 postings Fills in 18 days, faster than most plant roles. Pay sits close to machine operators, which makes assemblers a natural pipeline for higher-volume operator roles. Forklift Operators $20.49/hr 1,767 postings Including transportation and warehousing employers raises the median to $21.11/hr and the fill time to 21 days. Plants competing for certified operators should price against distribution centers. Warehouse Associates $19.51/hr 1,349 postings The lowest median in this table and one of the fastest to fill at 16 days. The median is unchanged when warehousing employers are included, so schedule and start date are the main levers left. Source: Median advertised pay on postings that listed pay, Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set, Job Posting Tables, United States, June 29 to September 26, 2026. Manufacturing and engineering roles use the Manufacturing (NAICS 31) table; office roles use accounting, consulting, and administrative services; legal roles use offices of lawyers. Industry comparisons in the guidance use the same tables for the other verticals. Posting counts are postings that listed pay.