How Many Jobs Are Available in Capital Goods?

Capital goods power everything we consume. They are the engines behind the economy, literally and metaphorically. From assembly-line robotics to the very machines that print your laptop, capital goods are what companies use to create everything else.

In 2025, over 1.3 million jobs exist in the capital goods sector across the U.S., ranging from software developers and industrial designers to warehouse managers and machine operators.

It’s a wide ecosystem that merges tech, production, logistics, and engineering. But as automation scales and imports increase, the landscape is shifting.

Today, capital goods jobs are more specialized, more technical, and often better paid. Skilled professionals in supply chain, software, and engineering are still highly in demand.

So, is capital goods still a strong industry for job seekers in 2025?

Let’s break it down.

How many jobs are available in capital goods?

Capital goods covers many professions under its umbrella. As we’ll continue to explore, there are around 13000000 (1,3M) jobs available in capital good in the US alone. This number includes all of the jobs from software developers to warehouse workers, and it’s expected to grow over the course of 2021 to 2023.

Capital goods are indeed one of the biggest industries to work in. All of the types of jobs in the industry need to be added together to get an answer to this question.

Some jobs in this industry will see a lot of openings become available between 2021 and 2031. A software developer is one of these jobs, with more than 370,000 projected openings.

The future isn't as good-looking for other professions, like production workers. There is an expected decline in this category's job openings. This can be caused by many factors, including automation and computerization.

Unfortunately, capital goods are one of the industries that are negatively affected by a bad economic cycle. As soon as things start to take a turn for the worst, the first workers to get laid off are those in production.

But wait,

What are capital goods exactly?

Capital goods overview

There are four factors of production; namely: land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship. All these factors are equally important in production, and without just one of them, the entire process would come to a standstill.

Since capital goods are important for production, its economical role is also quite significant. These goods are used to make new products that consumers purchase, which, thus, boosts the economy.

Additionally, they can be exported to other countries, giving the economy an even bigger boost.

It is much better for the economy, the population, and the country as a whole if the capital goods are produced within a country’s borders.

Importing the goods would have a negative effect on the trade balance, and unemployment would rise. Plus, these imported capital goods would be unaffordable to local companies that need them. Of course, that’s not to say that this economy model is 100% negative. Politicians and giant corporations that control the game aren’t stupid.

But that’s a whole discussion, probably for another blog!

Capital goods definition

Capital goods are the physical materials, tools, and machinery a company uses to produce final goods. It can include anything from machines and tools to trucks, physical buildings, and everything in between.

A company typically owns the physical assets, which is why they are referred to as 'capital' goods.

The more a company expands, the more capital goods they purchase to handle the many production tasks. The more capital goods a company has, the higher its success rate and the more products it can deliver to the market.

If you work for any company involved in developing tools and machines, that then are used to produce end products, you can consider yourself a capital goods worker. In fact, you can call yourself a worker in this industry even if you sweep the floors at a production plant or drive a truck that delivers tools.

Examples of capital goods

• Industrial machines: these are used to produce and manipulate goods, like cutters or 3D printers.
• Trucks, trains, and other vehicles: they are used to transport the final products to the final location.
• Vehicles and machinery: they are used on-site, like forklifts and excavators.
• Hardware & software: these are used in the production of goods, like physical computers and artificial intelligence.
• Input and raw materials: they are used to create new products, like the steel that is used to make cars.
• Production tools: like saws, for instance, they are used to cut down the trees that are used to make paper or wooden furniture.
• Buildings: where production takes place, like large factories and warehouses.

Types of jobs available in the capital goods industry

Capital goods are one of the broadest industries out there. Technically, capital goods are responsible for all final goods that have been produced.

This means that the types of jobs and careers in this industry are almost unlimited.

Capital goods workers aren't limited to the people who wear hard hats, safety goggles, overalls, and water or safety boots. Just like in REIT jobs, many professionals in this industry sit in an office and work a regular nine-to-five job in a thousand dollar suits.

Others have very flexible jobs, and may be on the road or at home most of the time.

You can pretty much work almost in any field and call yourself a capital goods worker.

If you're considering a career in capital goods, it would be best to learn about the different jobs and find something that interests you. You need to narrow down what exactly you want to pursue when saying “capital worker,” rather than a simple spray-and-pray style.

For more information on the best paying jobs in capital goods, feel free to read our recent blog about this matter.

With the help of resources from Salary.com and the BLS, we made a list of possible capital goods jobs that you can consider.

Software developer: $114,164 per year

As a professional in this job, you'll work in the IT field of capital goods. Your job description will include creating, designing, building, and programming software that can then be used in the production process.

You'll also need to develop software that powers machinery and computers themselves.

If you intend to become a software developer, you need a bachelor's degree or similar qualification in computer science or engineering. Some advanced development positions may require a master's degree or even higher.

The base salary you can expect to earn as a software developer will depend on your experience and qualifications. However, you can earn an average of $114,164 per year. This is a good salary, considering software developers don’t always work long hours.

This profession's job outlook is excellent. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently projected growth between 25 and 26% for software developers from 2021 to 2031. Additionally, an average of 162,900 jobs will be opening each year until 2031, as per the same source.

Production worker: $37,937 per year

Production workers, also commonly hired in basic industries, mainly work on the production line. You'll need a range of skills and certifications to help you complete your daily tasks.

Your job will be working with the machinery and equipment to ensure everything runs smoothly. Your responsibilities would include cleaning, maintaining, and assembling large capital goods. Sometimes you'll be directly on the line, assembling some products themselves or packing them into boxes.

Production workers don't earn a massive salary, as the job doesn’t require top-notch skillset. Still, there is much room for growth in the industry. Plus, you'll mostly work overtime, for which you will get strongly rewarded. You can expect to earn an average of $37,937 per year.

The field of production work is very comprehensive, so it's hard to narrow it down and put it in numbers.

The overall production worker job outlook isn't good, with a decline of 5% over the next ten years.

Research & development technician: $47,939 per year

Research and development (R&D) technicians work with the team that researches and develops new products. You'll be required to test the new projects with a mixture of chemistry and mathematics.

Your daily tasks may include using formulas and other mathematical equations to confirm that a new product will work.

Overall, research technicians earn an average of $47,939 per year.

This particular position usually give you the option of working for a single company and test all of their new products or take part-time jobs at different companies.

The projected growth for this job also looks very good. According to the BLS, there will be an increase of approximately 7% from 2021 to 2031.

Driver: $57,831 per year

Drivers are involved in the transportation part of capital goods across the country or at least from one part of a city to another.

As a driver, you can be employed to drive many different vehicles or machines, including trucks, cars, buses, and forklifts.

You can be hired to transport many goods, including food, takeout, and large loads of certain products. There's always room for more training so as to be able to transport toxic or hazardous materials for higher salaries.

There isn't a minimum education requirement for drivers. In most cases, you only need a specific driver's license to transport certain goods.

The average salary of general drivers in the US is $57,831 per year. The job growth for this profession stands at 11% from 2021 to 2031. This means that many more drivers will be needed in the future.

Engineering manager: $132,325 per year

Engineering managers are involved in the planning and development of a new product. You'll need to come up with concepts and ensure that all goes according to plan in the development of that product.

You need to have at least a master's degree in engineering management to get a good job as an engineering manager. De factp, most employers prefer that you have a few years of prior experience in the field.

Engineering managers are amongst the highest-paid capital goods workers. This is understandable because your job will be very complex, and you need to be highly qualified.

Engineering managers earn no less than an average salary of $132,325 per year. This amount is almost never set, because it varies widely between jobs and employers.

There is a projected engineering manager job growth of 2% from 2021 to 2031. This doesn't sound much, but it's an average of 14,000 openings each year until 2031!

Marketing manager: $73,783 per year

As a marketing manager, your job will be to devise plans to market capital goods to buyers who can use the goods in their final products.

Marketing managers need a number of skills and a bachelor's degree in marketing. In exceptionally rare cases, having a certification or short course could be enough.

The average annual salary you can expect as a marketing manager is around $73,783. You could take a part-time job and get paid with a commission as many marketing managers prefer. The commission approach can double up your income if you’re a well-rounded marketer.

The projected growth for this job is 10% over the ten years, which range from 2021 to 2031. This is a great outlook, and it means that many new products will be on the shelves in the future.

Industrial architect: $90,392 per year

Architecture is the planning and design of buildings and constructions. Industrial architecture is one of the many types of architecture.

This field of expertise involves the designing and drawing of blueprints of buildings that are specifically used in an industrial setup. This includes factories, silos, warehouses, cold rooms, and foundries.

As an architect in the US, you could earn an overall average of $90,392 per year. This number is suited because you will have a very important job.

You have the opportunity to open your own firm in which you can specialize in industrial architecture.

Estimated job growth of 3% is expected over the period between 2021 and 2031.

Business development manager: $74,660 per year

Business development managers work with the management team of a company. You'll be pretty much involved in growth hacking methods and spotting room for production and distribution growth.

Your main objective would be to increase the profit margin, get new customers, and improve the brand's image.

For this position, you could earn an average of $74,660 per year.

There is a 10% expected job growth from 2021 to 2031, which means there will be many more jobs opening in the future.

Sales Engineer: $85,319 per year

Sales engineers are the people who present technical and scientific products to potential customers.

Your job will be to persuade customers that your products are worth their investment. In simpler terms, you need to help potential buyers see the perks of your product, and the job it can get done for them, thus convincing them that your product is worth the price.

If you're a future sales engineer, you can expect to earn an average of $85,319 annually. Plus, you could earn much more if you work on a commission basis!

There will definitely be an opening for you from 2021 to 2031 since the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% job growth!

Manufacturing Technician: $48,679 per year

Manufacturing technicians are directly involved in the manufacturing process. Your duties will include operating the machinery, tools, and other heavy equipment used to produce capital goods.

You will also have the responsibility of testing the final products to ensure that there aren't any defects or flaws.

Open manufacturing technician jobs will increase by 5% from 2021 to 2031. If you're one of the lucky ones that land a job in this industry, you could earn $48,679 annually.

Benefits of a capital goods career

There are many benefits of starting a career in capital goods. Whether you're floating around between part-time jobs, or growing in your current position, there are always a few positives!

Thousands of capital goods companies open their doors every day. These companies need workers, and you could be one of them.

Large-scale production companies need a lot of workers, and sometimes they don't care about experience. This is great for school leavers because they can immediately land a new job.

Many companies need entry-level workers. These companies take initiative and provide training on the job, and sometimes they send their workers off to do courses and get certifications.

These jobs don't pay well initially, but the compensation usually includes a few benefits and the opportunity to work yourself up.

In most cases, if you land a job at one of these leading US capital goods companies, you can rest assured that you have a stable job. There will always be a need for capital goods, which means there will always be a need for capital goods workers.

As long as this need exists and you do your job properly, the chances are slim that you'll have to look for a new job soon.

Many capital goods jobs include great benefits, like health insurance and a retirement fund. You may not consider these benefits very important from the beginning, but their value is immeasurable when needed.

Another great benefit is the opportunity to grow and work yourself into a management position. Nobody wants to work on the bottom forever, right? You could start as a production line worker and end up as a supervisor or production manager.

Challenges in Capital Goods Careers: What to Know Before You Start

No industry is perfect; and capital goods is no exception. The key is to understand the trade-offs early, so you can position yourself smartly in a competitive, evolving space.

While most roles in this sector offer solid job security, particularly in manufacturing and logistics, cyclical layoffs still happen.

During economic downturns, production slows down, and entry-level workers are often the first to be let go. This is not unique to capital goods, but it's something worth factoring in if you’re pursuing a frontline role.

Then there’s the elephant in the factory: automation.

As companies adopt smarter machinery and AI-driven systems, some manual jobs are being phased out.

Machines don’t get tired, most of the time at least. They don’t need health benefits. And they perform repetitive tasks with precision. That said, not all roles are replaceable. Drivers, technicians, and roles involving human judgment or mobility are still safe, for now.

Another challenge?

Upward mobility can be slow for workers without formal qualifications. Many roles in this industry don’t require degrees, which makes them accessible, but also means you may stay in entry-level positions longer, especially if you’re not actively learning or upskilling.

And while wages are fair, and overtime can be quite lucrative, production work is often physically demanding. Long hours, repetitive movements, and occasional exposure to safety risks are part of the job.

Most employers do provide insurance, proper Personal Protective Equipments, and structured safety protocols, but the risks are still there.

Finally, if your long-term goal is entrepreneurship, know that not every capital goods role leads there.

Software developers and engineers might transition into consulting or product design.

Business development professionals might eventually launch service firms.

But traditional roles like machine operators or warehouse staff have fewer pathways to build something independently.

So, is it still worth it?

If you’re strategic, yes.

Capitalize on your current position. Learn the tech. Build relationships. Get certified. Work your way into roles that complement automation, rather than compete with it.

The industry is not dying, it’s evolving. And there’s still plenty of room for human talent, especially those who can think, adapt, and lead.