Here are 5 of the Best Paying Jobs in Capital Goods

Everything we make has to come from somewhere — and there's a job to make that happen.

Here are 5 of the Best Paying Jobs in Capital Goods

The capital goods industry is an excellent choice when you are on the verge of advancing or changing your career. But you'll need to know the right jobs to pick for a successful journey. So, let's first understand what this industry entails and why it should be a priority.

Capital goods are products involved in manufacturing and production processes like mining and agriculture. They can be buildings, machinery, or equipment.

They are economically integral since they produce all kinds of goods that we take for granted. So, once you choose one of the best-paying jobs in capital goods, you'll have all the job security you need.

#1 Wholesale Buyer

Here is all the information you need to know.

What It Is

Wholesale buying entails purchasing services or products for organizations. These clients/organizations can either resell the products or use them. You'll work full-time from the office most of the time and only travel when you need to evaluate products.

As a purchasing manager, you'll evaluate suppliers, review product quality, and negotiate contracts. For example, farm product purchasing agents negotiate prices and get agricultural products for larger companies to resell.

Required Education

You must have a bachelor's degree to become a wholesale buyer. You can get one in the military or technology fields. However, your organization's size also determines the required education level.

For instance, some small operations only require a high school diploma since you'll get on-the-job experience and training, while large ones may require a bachelor's degree.

Whether you need certifications or not depends on the specific industry.

Expected Salary

Wholesale buyers received a median annual pay of $63,470. You can also get extra compensation since most employees work overtime in this field.

Job Growth

Although the industry may contract a bit over the next decade, there are still ample opportunities (about 50,000 of these roles open up every year).

#2 Export Manager

Here is another one of the best-paying jobs in capital goods.

What It Is

Export managers direct sales teams and help manage the logistics of international companies. So, your responsibilities will include analyzing data, developing training programming when new sales representatives enter organizations, and setting sales goals.

For instance, you can export wholesale foods to individual grocery stores. Another example is how automotive dealerships get their cars.

It can be a stressful field to work in since you'll have various responsibilities. In addition, you'll often need to travel to national, local, and regional offices. Some workers also visit distributors' and dealers' offices and can often work holidays. So it's important to know what you're getting into.

Required Education

Educational requirements depend on the organization but usually a bachelor's degree is the way to go.

You can do any course in the following fields to earn this job:

  • Marketing
  • Business law
  • Statistics
  • Mathematics
  • Economics
  • Accounting
  • Management

Expected Salary

Export managers received a median annual salary of $127,490. In addition, some organizations combine salary, commissions, and bonuses to compensate for weekend and holiday work.

Bonuses usually depend on your performance, whereas commissions come from the value of products sold.

Job Growth

Export management may grow by 5% between 2022-2031, which is about average when compared to industries as a whole.

Over the past decade, approximately 41,900 export management job openings have come up yearly. Many of these hirings aim to replace retired employees and workers who entered other occupations.

#3 Market Research Analyst

The following information will help you decide if a marketing role might be a good fit.

What It Is

The market research analysis is about understanding the conditions surrounding consumers. This job entails analyzing consumer preferences, potential service or product sales, and overall business conditions.

You'll study information and gather necessary data to develop strategies that boost an organization's sales. You can use questionnaires, public opinion polls, or focus groups to get the necessary data.

In addition, you'll have to understand the competitors' activities to assess preferences and financial prospects.

Required Education

A bachelor's degree is the primary educational requirement for a market research analyst. However, some large organizations also prefer candidates with master's degrees (i.e., MBA).

You are the perfect candidate for this job if you have a bachelor's degree in market research, communications, or social sciences. You can also pursue certification to demonstrate competency, but most organizations don't consider it a requirement.

Expected Salary

A market research analyst can earn a medium annual salary of $63,920 (but as high as $79,000). Then, this can grow as you get promoted to more senior roles.

Job Growth

Employment in this field may grow by 19% from 2022-2031. It is way faster than the employment growth in other occupations. In addition, 99,800 job openings come up yearly as of statics recorded for the past decade.

#4 Mineral Engineer

For those with a knack for the sciences, here's a great role to consider.

What It Is

This field involves designing mines efficiently and safely extracting minerals for utilities and manufacturing. So, as a mining engineer, you'll design underground and open-pit mines, prepare technical engineers' reports and suggest solutions to air pollution issues.

In addition, you'll only focus on a single mineral, such as gold or coal. You might work with metallurgical engineers and geologists to find ore deposits. Some employees work full time or 40 hours weekly from offices while others work on-site.

Education Requirements

You'll need an engineering bachelor's degree to get this job. There may be additional licenses too since this is a very technical field.

Expected Salary

Employees in this field received a median annual salary of $97,090.

Job Growth

The employment rate in this field may grow by 2% from 2022-2031. But, there are at least 500 job openings yearly as of the data collected in the past decade.

#5 Resource Conservationists

Here are the basics about breaking into this green field.

What It Is

This field involves managing forests, rangelands, and parks. Your duties will include the following:

  • Overseeing conservation activities and forestry
  • Negotiating forest harvesting terms
  • Establish forest land management plans
  • Monitoring forest-cleared lands

Education Requirements

You'll need a bachelor's degree in forestry-related fields. Agriculture, natural resources, and rangeland management are some fields considered by organizations.

In addition, some states also require forestry licenses for workers in this field. You can join forestry programs in the Society of American Foresters to get these licenses.

Expected Salary

Resource conservationists received a median annual salary of $63,750.

Job Growth

Employment in this field may grow by 5% from 2022-2031. But, this may quicken as trends around climate change impact how we treat natural resources.

Learn More

We hope you found this information useful! Capital goods is a very broad term that encompasses a range of fields. If you want to learn more about this field, ask more questions about how things are made and with what materials. You may be surprised by what you discover!