Manufacturing Jobs in Arlington, TX
Manufacturing in Arlington starts at GM Arlington Assembly on East Abram Street and spreads through the Great Southwest Industrial District along I-30 and SH 360. Entry production work posts at $16 an hour and up, with machine and skilled roles well past $23. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to start.
Current manufacturing Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Manufacturing Work in Arlington
GM Arlington Assembly, which has built full-size SUVs in the city since 1954 and now turns out the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade, is the anchor, and the City lists General Motors as its largest employer. Around it, supplier and industrial plants fill the Great Southwest Industrial District on the east side, an industrial zone of more than 80 million square feet that straddles the Grand Prairie line. International Automotive Components runs three shifts of assembly, material handling and quality work for the GM supply chain, while Poly-America runs plastics lines just across the line in Grand Prairie.
The market reaches past autos. Packaging Corporation of America runs a corrugated box plant in Arlington, ANDRITZ keeps an Arlington office with inspection and field service roles, and Siemens builds electrical switchgear in Fort Worth, an easy drive west on I-30 or I-20. Most plants run two or three shifts, so night and weekend availability is often the fastest way in the door.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring in Manufacturing
These employers are posting production, assembly and machine roles in and around Arlington on their own career sites:
- International Automotive Components - the GM supplier posts Production Assembly on 2nd shift at $16+ an hour plus forklift and parts handler roles at $18 to $19+.
- Poly-America - the Grand Prairie plastics maker hires Machine Operator Trainees, Packagers and overnight production staff.
- Packaging Corporation of America - the Arlington box plant posted a 2nd shift T-Car Operator at $23.83 an hour with a path to corrugator operator.
- Siemens - the Fort Worth switchgear plant hires Assembler I and Fabrication Machine Operators at about $18 to $25 an hour, plus a 5 percent 2nd shift premium.
- ANDRITZ - the industrial equipment group's Arlington office posts quality inspection, field service welder and engineering roles.
- GM Arlington Assembly - the city's largest employer runs a skilled trades apprenticeship program in Arlington and hires controls and process engineers for the plant.
Manufacturing Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $16 to $19 an hour for production assembly, packaging and trainee machine roles.
- Experienced: roughly $19 to $25 an hour for machine operators, forklift handlers and fabrication operators.
- Senior and skilled: about $25 to $36 an hour for maintenance mechanics, manufacturing technicians and leads.
These are estimates built from posted pay at local plants and federal wage data; the DFW production average was $23.83 an hour in May 2025. Shift matters most: 2nd and 3rd shifts often carry a premium, and skilled maintenance and technician roles pay well above line work.
How to Become a Manufacturing Worker in Arlington
Most entry production jobs ask for a high school diploma or GED, the ability to stand and lift on a shift, and a clean attendance record. Texas does not license general manufacturing workers, and forklift operators are trained and certified by the employer under OSHA rules. To move up, Tarrant County College South Campus in south Fort Worth offers CNC Machinist Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Mechatronics and Industrial Technician programs, and Arlington ISD students can start in the Manufacturing cluster at the Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center on Browning Drive.
What the Job Involves
Manufacturing workers assemble parts, run and monitor machines, pack finished product, move material with forklifts and pallet jacks, and check their own work against quality standards. Shifts are usually eight to ten hours on your feet, with production targets, safety rules and personal protective equipment as part of every day.
Skills Employers Look For
- Reliable attendance and willingness to work nights or weekends
- Ability to stand, lift and keep pace with a line
- Basic math, measuring and blueprint reading
- Attention to quality and safety procedures
- Forklift or machine experience for higher-paid roles
- Teamwork and clear communication on the floor
Career Path and Advancement
In Arlington the ladder usually starts in production assembly or material handling, moves to machine operator or quality roles, and then to a skilled trade such as industrial maintenance, a manufacturing technician seat, or a line lead and supervisor job. GM's Arlington apprenticeship program and TCC South Campus certificates are the two most direct routes from the line into the skilled trades.
Related Careers in Arlington
If manufacturing interests you, these related Arlington roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work in manufacturing in Arlington?
No. Texas does not license general manufacturing or production workers. Most entry jobs need a high school diploma or GED, and forklift certification is provided by the employer under OSHA rules.
How much do manufacturing jobs pay in Arlington?
Entry production assembly posts around $16 an hour and up, machine and fabrication operators earn about $19 to $25, and skilled maintenance and technician roles reach the mid $30s. These are estimates that move with shift and employer.
Do Arlington plants pay more for night shift?
Many do. Siemens adds 5 percent for 2nd shift in Fort Worth, and IAC posts 3rd shift forklift pay above its 2nd shift rate. Ask about shift premiums before you accept an offer.
Where are most manufacturing jobs in Arlington?
Most sit on the east side, around GM Arlington Assembly on East Abram Street and through the Great Southwest Industrial District along I-30 and SH 360 into Grand Prairie. Fort Worth plants to the west are also within commuting range.
How can I train for a better-paying manufacturing job?
Tarrant County College South Campus offers short certificates in CNC machining, manufacturing technology, mechatronics and industrial maintenance. GM also runs a skilled trades apprenticeship program at its Arlington plant.
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