Where our numbers come from.

A career-navigation site is only useful if its facts are trustworthy. This page names every source we use, how often we refresh it, and the editorial rules we apply when the sources disagree.

Last reviewed: November 2025.

Primary sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS OEWS). National, state, and metro wage data by occupation. bls.gov/oes
• BLS — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Job outlook, entry-level education, and typical tasks by occupation. bls.gov/ooh
• O*NET Online (US Department of Labor). Skills, work styles, and typical education paths by occupation. onetonline.org
• Apprenticeship.gov (US DOL). Registered apprenticeship openings and sponsor lookup. apprenticeship.gov
• OSHA / BLS Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. Industry-level safety and incident rates cited on our safety page. bls.gov/iif
• CareerOneStop (US DOL). Training-provider lookup and funding-program directory. careeronestop.org

Editorial rules

• · When wage data conflict across sources, we prefer the most recent BLS OEWS release and note the vintage on the page where the number appears.
• · Career-family descriptions are written by Tatyana Wilson from direct placement experience, then fact-checked against BLS/O*NET occupation profiles.
• · No employer, school, or training provider pays to appear on this site or rank higher in the career library.
• · When we recommend a credential, funding source, or apprenticeship program, we link directly to a government or accredited-nonprofit page — not an affiliate.
• · If we get something wrong, email corrections@mfgcareers.app and we'll fix it and note the change here.

What this site is not

Not a job board. Not a school. Not a placement agency. Not government-affiliated. MfgCareers is an independent editorial and coaching resource built by Tatyana Wilson to help adults navigate US manufacturing careers.