Automotive Manufacturing Jobs in Arlington, TX
Arlington is a genuine auto-building town. GM Arlington Assembly, a 4-million-square-foot plant off Highway 360, builds General Motors' entire full-size SUV lineup, including the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and the GMC Yukon, and has drawn nearly $2 billion in GM investment since 2013. That single plant anchors a dense ring of just-in-time suppliers, seating, stamping, interior, and sequencing operations that all hire locally, which is why automotive manufacturing is one of the steadiest sources of production, skilled-trades, and quality work in Tarrant County. This hub pulls together every LocalJobPage automotive manufacturing guide for Arlington so you can find a role, see who is hiring, and apply.
Why Automotive Manufacturing Is Strong in Arlington
Unlike a lot of Sun Belt metros, Arlington still has a full vehicle assembly plant, not just warehouses. GM Arlington runs multiple shifts and, alongside UAW Local 276, employs thousands of hourly workers building some of the most profitable SUVs GM makes. Because the plant builds to a just-in-time schedule, tier-one suppliers such as Lear, Forvia (Faurecia), Android Industries, and Gestamp operate sequencing and sub-assembly sites nearby and staff up in step with GM's production. The result is a real career ladder in one place: you can start as an assembler or materials handler and move into stamping, paint, robotics maintenance, tool and die, quality, or a supervisor role without leaving the metro.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Automotive Manufacturing Workers
These are the companies that actually build vehicles and vehicle components in and around Arlington. Most hire on rolling shifts, so openings turn over regularly.
- GM Arlington Assembly - the anchor plant; hires assemblers, production operators, and skilled trades to build full-size SUVs.
- Lear Corporation - seating and electrical systems supplier that sequences seats to the GM line.
- Forvia (Faurecia) - interior and emissions-systems supplier hiring production techs and assemblers.
- Android Industries - sub-assembly and sequencing partner feeding modules to the plant.
- Gestamp - metal stamping and body-structure supplier hiring press operators and die setters.
- Martinrea - metal forming and fluid-systems supplier with production and maintenance roles.
- Inteva Products - interior systems supplier hiring assemblers and quality inspectors.
Automotive Manufacturing Career Paths in Arlington
The nine guides in this hub group into three tracks that mirror how an Arlington plant is actually staffed.
- Assembly and production line: Automotive Assembler, Automotive Production Technician, and Materials Handler - the entry points that keep the line moving and feed parts to the stations.
- Skilled trades and machinery: Stamping Press Operator, Automotive Paint Technician, Robotics Maintenance Technician, and Tool and Die Maker - higher-paid roles that run, fix, and build the equipment.
- Quality and leadership: Quality Control Inspector and Production Supervisor - the roles that check the work and run the crews.
How to Start an Automotive Manufacturing Career in Arlington
Most entry-level production jobs need a high school diploma or GED and are learned on the job; the skilled trades take training or an apprenticeship. Local paths worth knowing:
- Tarrant County College (TCC): machining and CNC, welding, industrial maintenance, and mechatronics/automation programs at the Trinity River and Southeast campuses feed directly into press, tool-and-die, and robotics roles.
- UT Arlington: the College of Engineering offers mechanical, manufacturing, and robotics tracks for those aiming at process, quality-engineering, or supervisory careers.
- Apprenticeships: GM and its suppliers run skilled-trades apprenticeships (electrical, tool and die, robotics/controls); UAW Local 276 represents GM Arlington's hourly workforce.
- Useful certifications: OSHA 10/30, forklift certification, AWS welding credentials, NIMS machining certifications, and FANUC or robotics controls certificates all strengthen an application.
Texas does not require a state license for general automotive manufacturing work; hiring is driven by skills, certifications, and shift availability rather than a state credential.
Automotive Manufacturing Salaries in Arlington
Pay depends on the employer, the shift, and whether the role is production or skilled trade. GM and UAW-scale hourly wages sit at the higher end of these ranges.
- Entry (assembler, materials handler, paint helper): about $18 to $24 per hour, roughly $38,000 to $50,000 a year.
- Mid (production technician, stamping press operator, quality inspector): about $25 to $34 per hour, roughly $52,000 to $70,000 a year.
- Senior and skilled trades (tool and die maker, robotics maintenance technician, production supervisor): about $35 to $50 per hour, roughly $72,000 to $100,000 or more.
These are estimates that vary by employer, seniority, and shift differential. Full-time plant roles usually add medical and dental coverage, a 401(k) or pension, paid time off, and shift premiums for nights and weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a degree to get an automotive manufacturing job in Arlington?
No. Most entry-level assembler, production, and materials-handler jobs at GM Arlington and its suppliers require only a high school diploma or GED and offer on-the-job training. Skilled trades such as tool and die or robotics maintenance need a certificate, associate degree, or apprenticeship, which TCC and supplier programs provide locally.
Which Arlington employer hires the most automotive manufacturing workers?
GM Arlington Assembly is by far the largest, employing thousands of hourly workers across multiple shifts to build full-size SUVs. Its just-in-time supplier ring, including Lear, Forvia (Faurecia), Android Industries, and Gestamp, adds hundreds more roles that staff up in step with the plant.
How much do automotive manufacturing jobs pay in Arlington?
Entry-level production roles generally start around $18 to $24 an hour, mid-level production and machine-operator jobs run about $25 to $34, and skilled trades and supervisors can reach $35 to $50 an hour. UAW-scale GM roles sit toward the top of those ranges, and night and weekend shifts add premiums.
What is the difference between an automotive assembler and a production technician?
An automotive assembler installs parts and builds the vehicle at fixed line stations, often with hand and power tools. A production technician typically has a broader role: setting up, monitoring, and troubleshooting the equipment and process, so it usually calls for more training and pays a bit more.
Do you have to join the UAW to work at GM Arlington?
GM Arlington's hourly workforce is represented by UAW Local 276, so hourly plant jobs are union positions covered by the national GM-UAW agreement. The nearby tier-one suppliers set their own terms, and many of those production and skilled-trades roles are not unionized.
Ready to get started? Browse all current automotive manufacturing job openings in Arlington, TX on LocalJobPage.