Top 10 Manufacturing Employers in Ohio (And What They Pay)

Ohio is the third-largest manufacturing state in the country. Over 700,000 Ohioans work in manufacturing, generating more than $100 billion in GDP annually. The state produces everything from jet engines to automotive transmissions to industrial bearings—and the workforce shortage means employers are competing hard for skilled trades workers.

If you have welding certifications, CNC programming skills, or industrial maintenance experience, Ohio manufacturers want to talk to you. And they're willing to pay for it.

We pulled data from employer postings, BLS wage estimates, and company filings to profile the 10 biggest manufacturing employers in Ohio—what they build, what they pay, and how to get in.

1. Honda Manufacturing (Marysville & East Liberty)

Headquarters: Marysville, OH (North American Manufacturing) Major Facilities: Marysville Auto Plant, East Liberty Auto Plant, Anna Engine Plant, Russells Point Transmission Plant Ohio Employees: ~15,000 Industry: Automotive Manufacturing

Honda's Ohio presence is massive. The Marysville Auto Plant was the first Japanese auto plant in America when it opened in 1982, and today Honda's four Ohio manufacturing facilities produce the Accord, CR-V, and multiple engine and transmission models. Honda invested $700 million in Ohio EV production in 2024-2025, signaling long-term commitment to the state.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• Production Associate: $20-26/hour ($42k-$54k/year) + overtime
• Skilled Maintenance Technician: $30-40/hour ($62k-$83k/year)
• Quality Assurance Technician: $24-32/hour ($50k-$67k/year)
• Tool & Die Maker: $32-42/hour ($67k-$87k/year)
• Robotics Technician: $28-38/hour ($58k-$79k/year)

Benefits Highlights: Day-one health insurance, profit sharing (averaging $3,000-$5,000 annually), 401(k) match, tuition assistance, and Honda Associate Lease program for discounted vehicles.

What they look for: Associates degree or technical certificate in industrial maintenance, mechatronics, or manufacturing technology. Honda runs internal training but strongly prefers candidates with formal technical education.

2. GE Aerospace (Evendale & Cincinnati)

Headquarters: Evendale, OH Major Facilities: Evendale (HQ & engineering), Peebles Test Operations, Cincinnati service centers Ohio Employees: ~9,000 Industry: Aerospace / Jet Engine Manufacturing

GE Aerospace—formerly GE Aviation before the 2024 corporate split—is the world's largest jet engine manufacturer by market share. Their Evendale campus is the nerve center of global jet engine development, and Ohio facilities handle everything from R&D to component manufacturing to engine testing.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• CNC Machinist: $26-36/hour ($54k-$75k/year)
• Aircraft Engine Assembler: $24-34/hour ($50k-$71k/year)
• NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) Technician: $28-38/hour ($58k-$79k/year)
• Precision Grinder Operator: $25-34/hour ($52k-$71k/year)
• Quality Inspector: $27-37/hour ($56k-$77k/year)

Benefits Highlights: GE's benefits package includes health/dental/vision, pension plan (increasingly rare in manufacturing), 401(k) with 6% match, and up to $25,000/year in tuition reimbursement.

What they look for: AWS and ASME certifications for welding roles, ASNT certifications for NDT, and precision machining experience for CNC positions. GE recruits heavily from Cincinnati State Technical College and Sinclair Community College.

3. Procter & Gamble (Cincinnati)

Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH Major Facilities: Cincinnati (multiple), Lima, Mehoopany support operations Ohio Employees: ~8,000 Industry: Consumer Goods Manufacturing

P&G is one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, and Ohio is home to both their global headquarters and significant manufacturing operations. Cincinnati-area plants produce brands like Tide, Pampers, and Gillette. The company's manufacturing facilities are among the most automated in the consumer goods industry.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• Manufacturing Technician: $24-32/hour ($50k-$67k/year)
• Maintenance Technician: $28-38/hour ($58k-$79k/year)
• Process Automation Technician: $26-36/hour ($54k-$75k/year)
• Packaging Equipment Operator: $22-28/hour ($46k-$58k/year)
• Utilities/Facilities Technician: $27-36/hour ($56k-$75k/year)

Benefits Highlights: P&G is consistently ranked among America's best employers. Benefits include profit sharing, stock purchase plan, 401(k) with dollar-for-dollar match up to 6%, and a domestic partner benefits policy that's been in place since 1992.

What they look for: Industrial electrician certifications, PLC programming experience, and mechanical aptitude. P&G values problem-solvers who can work in highly automated environments.

4. The Timken Company (Canton)

Headquarters: Canton, OH Major Facilities: Canton (bearings), Bucyrus (steel), Zanesville Ohio Employees: ~4,500 Industry: Engineered Bearings & Power Transmission

Timken has been making bearings in Canton since 1899. Today they're a global leader in engineered bearings, power transmission products, and specialty steel. Their Ohio operations include both the precision bearing manufacturing that made them famous and the Timken Steel subsidiary in Canton and Bucyrus.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• CNC Machinist: $24-34/hour ($50k-$71k/year)
• Precision Grinder Operator: $22-32/hour ($46k-$67k/year)
• Heat Treat Operator: $20-28/hour ($42k-$58k/year)
• Maintenance Technician: $27-37/hour ($56k-$77k/year)
• Quality Inspector (CMM): $25-34/hour ($52k-$71k/year)

Benefits Highlights: Health insurance, pension plan, 401(k) with company match, and a strong promote-from-within culture. Timken's Canton operations have multi-generational families—it's common to find parents and children working at the same facility.

What they look for: Precision machining skills, GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) knowledge, and metrology experience. Timken partners with Stark State College in Canton for CNC and manufacturing technology training.

5. Parker Hannifin (Cleveland)

Headquarters: Cleveland, OH Major Facilities: Cleveland (corporate + multiple divisions), Elyria, Ravenna, Wooster Ohio Employees: ~6,000 Industry: Motion & Control Technologies

Parker Hannifin is the world's largest manufacturer of motion and control technologies—hydraulic systems, pneumatic equipment, filtration, and fluid connectors used in everything from aircraft to factory robots. Their Cleveland headquarters includes significant manufacturing operations, and they operate multiple plants across northeast Ohio.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• CNC Machinist: $24-34/hour ($50k-$71k/year)
• Assembly Technician: $19-26/hour ($40k-$54k/year)
• Hydraulic Test Technician: $23-32/hour ($48k-$67k/year)
• Maintenance Mechanic: $26-36/hour ($54k-$75k/year)
• Welder/Fabricator: $22-32/hour ($46k-$67k/year)

Benefits Highlights: Competitive health benefits, employee stock purchase plan, 401(k) with match, and tuition reimbursement up to $10,000/year.

What they look for: CNC machining experience, hydraulic/pneumatic knowledge, and welding certifications. Parker recruits from Cuyahoga Community College, Lorain County Community College, and trade programs throughout northeast Ohio.

6. Lincoln Electric (Cleveland)

Headquarters: Euclid, OH (Cleveland suburb) Major Facilities: Euclid (world headquarters & manufacturing), Mentor, Cleveland Ohio Employees: ~3,500 Industry: Welding Equipment & Consumables

If you're a welder, you know Lincoln Electric. The company has been building welding equipment in Cleveland since 1895 and remains the world's largest manufacturer of welding products. Their Euclid campus is a manufacturing city unto itself—producing welding machines, electrodes, wire, and robotic welding systems.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• Production Welder: $20-28/hour ($42k-$58k/year)
• CNC Machinist: $23-32/hour ($48k-$67k/year)
• Electrical Assembler: $19-26/hour ($40k-$54k/year)
• Robotic Welding Technician: $26-36/hour ($54k-$75k/year)
• Maintenance Technician: $27-37/hour ($56k-$77k/year)

Benefits Highlights: Lincoln Electric is famous for its "guaranteed continuous employment" policy—no layoffs for employees with 3+ years of service. They also offer profit sharing that historically adds 30-60% to base pay, making total compensation significantly higher than the hourly rates suggest.

What they look for: AWS certifications, experience with multiple welding processes (GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, FCAW), and manufacturing experience. Lincoln runs their own welding school and recruits heavily from regional trade programs.

If welding is your focus, see our guide to the best welding schools in America.

7. Swagelok (Solon)

Headquarters: Solon, OH (Cleveland suburb) Major Facilities: Solon (multiple buildings), Highland Heights Ohio Employees: ~3,000 Industry: Fluid System Components

Swagelok manufactures high-quality tube fittings, valves, and fluid system components used in semiconductor fabrication, oil and gas, chemical processing, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Their products are precision-machined to extremely tight tolerances—a Swagelok fitting has to be leak-proof under thousands of PSI.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• CNC Machinist (Swiss/Multi-Axis): $26-38/hour ($54k-$79k/year)
• Quality Inspector: $24-33/hour ($50k-$69k/year)
• Assembly Technician: $18-25/hour ($37k-$52k/year)
• Tool & Die Maker: $30-42/hour ($62k-$87k/year)
• Manufacturing Engineer Technician: $26-36/hour ($54k-$75k/year)

Benefits Highlights: Swagelok is privately held with an employee-ownership culture. Benefits include profit sharing, 401(k), comprehensive health insurance, and tuition reimbursement. The company is consistently rated among the best places to work in Cleveland.

What they look for: High-precision CNC experience, especially multi-axis and Swiss-type lathe operation. They partner with Cuyahoga Community College and other regional programs for CNC training pipelines.

8. FirstEnergy / Utility Manufacturing (Akron)

Headquarters: Akron, OH Major Facilities: Akron (corporate), Perry Nuclear Plant, multiple generating stations Ohio Employees: ~5,500 Industry: Energy / Utility Infrastructure

FirstEnergy isn't a traditional manufacturer, but their power generation and distribution operations employ thousands of skilled trades workers across Ohio. Nuclear plant technicians, power line workers, substation electricians, and plant maintenance crews are all critical roles that require the same skills used in manufacturing.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• Power Plant Maintenance Technician: $30-42/hour ($62k-$87k/year)
• Substation Electrician: $32-44/hour ($67k-$92k/year)
• Line Technician: $28-40/hour ($58k-$83k/year)
• Instrument & Controls Technician: $30-40/hour ($62k-$83k/year)
• Welder (Power Generation): $26-36/hour ($54k-$75k/year)

Benefits Highlights: Union-represented positions (IBEW, UWUA) with strong health insurance, defined benefit pension, 401(k) with match, and overtime opportunities that can push total compensation well over $100k/year.

What they look for: Industrial electrician certifications, instrumentation experience, and power plant maintenance backgrounds. FirstEnergy partners with Stark State College and other Ohio technical programs for workforce development.

9. Whirlpool Corporation (Clyde & Findlay)

Headquarters: Benton Harbor, MI (Corporate) | Major Plants: Clyde, OH & Findlay, OH Ohio Employees: ~4,000 Industry: Home Appliance Manufacturing

Whirlpool's Clyde plant is one of the largest washing machine factories in the world, producing Whirlpool, Maytag, and Amana brand washers. The Findlay plant manufactures dishwashers. Together, these two northwest Ohio facilities represent a massive manufacturing footprint.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• Production Operator: $18-24/hour ($37k-$50k/year) + overtime
• Skilled Maintenance Technician: $28-38/hour ($58k-$79k/year)
• Quality Technician: $22-30/hour ($46k-$62k/year)
• Tool & Die Maker: $30-40/hour ($62k-$83k/year)
• Robotics/Automation Technician: $26-36/hour ($54k-$75k/year)

Benefits Highlights: Health insurance, 401(k) with company match, employee product discounts, and significant overtime availability (production workers frequently work 50-60 hour weeks during peak periods, significantly boosting annual earnings).

What they look for: Mechanical aptitude for production roles, industrial maintenance certifications for skilled trades positions. Whirlpool partners with Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Centers and Terra State Community College.

10. Dana Incorporated (Maumee)

Headquarters: Maumee, OH (Toledo suburb) Major Facilities: Maumee, Toledo, Fort Wayne operations support Ohio Employees: ~3,000 Industry: Drivetrain & Vehicle Components

Dana manufactures axles, driveshafts, and electrified powertrain components for virtually every major vehicle manufacturer. Their northwest Ohio operations include the global headquarters and manufacturing facilities producing drivetrain components for both traditional and electric vehicles. Dana's EV pivot is creating new demand for technicians who can work with both conventional and electrified systems.

Typical Roles & Pay:

• CNC Machinist: $22-32/hour ($46k-$67k/year)
• Production Welder: $20-28/hour ($42k-$58k/year)
• Assembly Technician: $18-24/hour ($37k-$50k/year)
• Maintenance Technician: $26-36/hour ($54k-$75k/year)
• Heat Treat Operator: $20-27/hour ($42k-$56k/year)

Benefits Highlights: Health insurance, 401(k) with match, tuition reimbursement, and Dana's internal advancement programs. The company promotes heavily from within.

What they look for: CNC machining, welding, and maintenance skills. Dana recruits from Owens Community College and other northwest Ohio technical programs.

How to Break Into Ohio Manufacturing

Ohio manufacturers across all 10 of these companies share common hiring preferences:

1. Target the right corridor. Northeast Ohio (Cleveland/Akron) is the hub for aerospace, fluid power, and precision manufacturing. Southwest Ohio (Cincinnati/Dayton) centers on aerospace (GE) and consumer goods (P&G). Central Ohio is growing in logistics and advanced manufacturing. Northwest Ohio (Toledo) is drivetrain and automotive supplier territory.

2. Get certified, not just trained. AWS certifications for welding. NIMS for CNC machining. OSHA for safety. These credentials are screening filters—they get your resume past HR and in front of hiring managers.

3. Use Ohio's training infrastructure. Ohio has one of the best community college systems in the country for manufacturing education. Programs at Cuyahoga Community College, Sinclair Community College, Columbus State, and Stark State are directly connected to the employers on this list.

4. Don't ignore shift premiums. Second and third shift positions often pay $2-4/hour above base rate and are far easier to land than day shift roles, especially for new hires.

5. Consider apprenticeships. Several Ohio manufacturers run formal apprenticeship programs that combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Honda, GE, and Lincoln Electric all offer structured pathways.

For a broader view of which trades pay the most, see our guide to the top 10 highest-paying trade jobs in 2026. And if you're comparing Ohio to other manufacturing states, check out our Texas manufacturing employers guide.

Employer data sourced from company filings, public careers pages, BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and HireBuilt employer database. Employee counts are approximate. Pay ranges reflect 2025-2026 data and vary by experience, shift, and specific role. Always verify current openings directly with employers.