Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, consumer durables is a good career path. Consumer durables offer a plethora of job opportunities in a wide variety of sectors, which means there is plenty of room for careers to both launch and grow.
This field involves non-consumable products that are designed to last about three years, such as appliances, furniture, cars, and electronics. As a result, engineers, designers, marketers, and manufacturers especially often find plenty of career opportunities in consumer durables.
8 of the Best-Paying Jobs in Consumer Durables
While salaries range significantly depending on how advanced you are in your career and where you’re working, there are a few consumer durables jobs that typically have higher-than-average salaries across the board.
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Average Annual Salary: $89,000
You might be surprised at how many robotics systems go into not only the appliances and technology items you buy but also the machines that are used to manufacture them. Because of this, robotics engineers are needed across the consumer durables industry.
Robotics engineers build and program robots to perform a function, so if you’re good at math and science, have strong problem-solving skills, and think working with machines sounds interesting, you might want to consider this field.
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Average Annual Salary: $72,000
Car and motor companies need engineers to design dependable, high-performing machines. These professionals may work on the machine as a whole, or they may focus on one part, such as the engine, aerodynamics, or safety.
Automotive engineers need to be good at math and science and have strong problem-solving skills. They also need to be able to work well independently and with others, as they often have to work with multidiscipline teams to complete projects.
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Automotive Sales Manager
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Car dealerships usually employ a significant number of sales representatives, and they need a manager to lead, organize, and motivate those representatives. Since they play a significant role in whether cars get sold or not, good automotive sales managers are usually paid generously for their efforts.
If you enjoy working with people, have a good head for business, and tend to be charismatic and convincing, you might enjoy a career as an automotive sales manager.
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Average Annual Salary: $86,000
Quality assurance (QA) engineers create and run testing programs to identify problems with software or products before they’re released to the public. These engineers make sure that cars are safe, dishwashers don’t leak after their use, and smart TV operating software runs glitch-free.
These engineers usually need to be skilled at coding and computer engineering and, in some cases, may need mechanical or electronics engineering expertise as well. If you enjoy being strategic, creatively solving problems, and doing math and science, this might be a great career choice for you.
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Average Annual Salary: $101,000
Electronics engineers, as their title implies, design electronic systems. These systems are used in cars, TVs, and even washing machines. As a result, there are plenty of consumer durables career opportunities for these professionals.
You might enjoy this career if you are good at math and science and enjoy working with codes and tiny wires and switches. You’ll also need strong creativity and problem-solving skills in this occupation.
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Average Annual Salary: $97,000
Computer engineers design and build computer programs for everything from laptops and smartphones to TVs, cars, and appliances. You might be surprised at how many of your household appliances and machines have computer chips built into them, and every one of those has been designed by a computer engineer.
If you have a knack for understanding how computers work and are good at creating efficient systems to solve a problem or reach a goal, you might enjoy this career.
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Average Annual Salary: $101,000
Companies need product brand managers to make sure that their brands stay consistent and relevant to customers. This involves everything from checking quality and packaging design to researching markets and competitors, all in an effort to make sure that their products stay competitive and are a good representation of the brand.
Product brand managers often have backgrounds in marketing, advertising, or public relations, so if you’re an excellent communicator, good with data, and have strong analytical skills, you might thrive in this career.
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Fashion Forecaster
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Have you ever noticed how stores release particular items just as they’re becoming ultra-trendy? You can thank fashion forecasters for that. These fashion industry pros can predict which styles and even colors will be hot up to several years in advance.
These professionals are invaluable to furniture, jewelry, and even car designers, as companies rely on fashion forecasters to help them stay ahead of the curve in their relevancy. If you seem to naturally have your thumb on the pulse of the latest trends and are interested in pursuing a fashion degree, consider this career path.
7 Entry-Level Jobs in Consumer Durables
If you’re interested in ways to launch your career in consumer durables, here are a few entry-level jobs that are worth looking into.
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Average Annual Salary: $56,000
Virtually every product offered in the consumer durables industry needs people to sell it to customers, and often you can do this with very little experience. Sales representatives can work on a store or dealership floor, helping customers decide on products, or in offices answering customers’ questions and complaints.
If you are a natural problem-solver, have strong communication skills, and enjoy interacting with all kinds of people all day, you may enjoy being a sales representative.
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Average Annual Salary: $51,000
Almost all consumer durables companies need marketing specialists to promote their products and services. These professionals research current and potential customer markets and then create strategies to reach those customers with their company’s product.
Most companies have entire marketing teams, which means this is a great option for an entry-level position that would allow you to learn and grow professionally. To be a marketer, you’ll need strong strategic and critical thinking skills, as well as communication and collaborative abilities.
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Average Annual Salary: $43,000
Isn’t it amazing how irresistible products can look in store displays? That is the result of the work of a visual merchandiser or someone who knows how to design aisle layouts, lighting levels, and shelf arrangements to be as appealing as possible.
Visual merchandising isn’t just about being able to make it look good, though: It’s also a strategic marketing method used to guide customers on what you want them to buy and to improve their experience. If you have this combination of analytical and creative powers, you might enjoy a career in this field.
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Average Annual Salary: $52,000
Interior designers are experts at creating rooms, offices, and retail spaces that are both enjoyable and functional. Car dealerships, retail stores, and advertisers in the consumer durable industries rely on their expertise to carry their branding into their buildings and ads and to create products that will fit well in people’s homes.
If you enjoy using space and design to both communicate a message and be as usable as possible, you may enjoy a career as an interior designer. Once you have your degree, keep an eye out for entry-level positions and then work your way up to working independently or as a contractor or business owner.
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CNC Machine Operator
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Computer numerical control (CNC) machines are used to manufacture a wide variety of parts and products. While they do the actual work of shaping the item, they need CNC operators to program them, inspect their work, and troubleshoot.
CNC operators often enjoy getting to work with their hands as well as using numbers and basic coding. All that’s typically required to land an entry-level CNC machine operator job is a professional certification, which you can often earn in just a few months.
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Average Annual Salary: $36,000
Someone needs to manufacture the appliances, kitchen goods, and other products that are sold in the consumer durables industry, and manufacturing technicians are the ones who do that.
These roles have a variety of requirements, making them good entry-level options for people who like to work with their hands and want the satisfaction of being able to point to something and say, “I made that.”
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Average Annual Salary: $51,000
Someone has to make the tools that are used to cut, shape, and mold the parts used to make consumer durable products, and tool and die makers are the ones who do it.
These professionals are proficient at designing and creating tools that fit specifications and solve a problem. If you enjoy solving problems, using your hands, and working with metal, plastics, and similar materials, you might enjoy being a tool and die maker.
Why Choose a Career in Consumer Durables?
Consumer durables is an industry that offers a wide variety of career paths to follow. From manufacturing to marketing, there’s something in it for everyone. You may want to consider a career in this area if you know you would enjoy any of these aspects of work:
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Creative problem-solving. Many of the jobs in consumer durables are built around trying to solve a problem for customers. Whether that’s how to bake their cookies more evenly or how to get their kids to school safely, you’ll get to put your critical thinking skills to work to develop products and processes that make people’s lives better.
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Big companies. Many consumer durable companies are large international brands. While some people don’t enjoy working for these corporations, these jobs do often come with great benefits and opportunities to move up within the same company.
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Job security. Yes, the consumer durables industry ebbs and flows just like everything else, but in general, people are always going to need a new cookie sheet or dishwasher. This means that this industry is relatively stable and will almost always have plenty of job opportunities.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Consumer Durables
Education and certification requirements vary widely depending on what you want to do in consumer durables, but there are a few common ones that will help set you up for success.
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An undergraduate degree. Many of the entry-level jobs in consumer durables require an undergraduate degree and having this credential will help set you up for further success in the ones that don’t necessarily require it.
Marketing, design, and business degrees are some of the most common, as are engineering degrees.
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A master’s degree. Obtaining a master’s in engineering or an MBA will help set you up for further success in consumer durables, as it will qualify you for leadership or more advanced research and design positions.
Not every job in consumer durables requires this, but if you want to move up to a managerial role, it will be helpful to have, and some companies may even require it. Your employer may be willing to pay for your master’s degree classes, so check into those options if you’re interested in going down this path.
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A professional certificate. Many consumer durable jobs – especially those on the manufacturing side – only require professional certification. These can be obtained at many community colleges or vocational schools, and some companies may even have on-the-job training programs available, allowing you to skip the classes entirely.
What Do People Working In Consumer Durables Do?
People working in consumer durables perform roles that contribute to the design, manufacturing, and sale of goods and appliances that last over three years. These include microwaves, TVs, and air conditioners, as well as kitchenware and bikes.
Jobs in this industry range from product design to marketing and everything in between, which means there are plenty of employment opportunities in consumer durables.
Author
Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.
