Manufacturing
Vernon County, Missouri and the City of Nevada meet the changing needs of the state and national economy capitalizing on the region’s unique strengths. Our area offers a strong competitive advantage with a large, diversified, and hardworking employee base along with transportation opportunities for virtually any product. The city of Nevada is home to top tier manufacturing companies such as 3M, Peerless Products Inc, Platinum Aerostructures, and W. F. Norman. Manufacturing is one of our most valued industries, and our region strives to maintain and expand these opportunities.
The County is particularly strong in:
- Plastics and chemicals
- Metal manufacturing
- Electronic component manufacturing
- Aerospace manufacturing
Industry concentration for top manufacturing industries in Vernon County and the greater Kaysinger Basin region. Location quotient (LQ) is a way of quantifying how concentrated a particular sector is in a region as compared to the nation. For example, the petroleum and coal products manufacturing subsector in Vernon County LQ is 17.89, which means that this industry is 17.89x more concentrated in the county than the typical region.
Industry | Vernon County LQ | Kaysinger Basin Region LQ |
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324) | 17.89 | 4.53 |
Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325) | 8.47 | 2.43 |
Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331) | 1.30 | 0.32 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (NAICS 3364) | 0.04 | 3.19 |
Source: Emsi, 2020
Well-trained and cost competitive workforce
Fort Scott Community College and Nevada Regional Technical Center offer programs in engineering, welding, and STEM to meet the needs of local employers. Fort Scott Community College also offers several unique employer partnership programs, such as John Deere Tech and Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Tech.
Welding-oriented industries benefit from the Midwest Welding Institute, which graduates hundreds of master welders each year.
Wages for manufacturing occupations are competitive when compared to Missouri and U.S. averages.
Occupations | Vernon County | Kaysinger Basin | Missouri | U.S. |
Aerospace Engineers | $47.46 | $55.05 | $49.78 | $56.01 |
Computer Hardware Engineers | $28.89 | $41.07 | $49.92 | $56,24 |
Electrical Engineers | $39.96 | $38.70 | $40.35 | $47.35 |
Industrial Engineers | $40.84 | $35.53 | $37.88 | $42.33 |
Mechanical Engineers | $43.29 | $36.79 | $36.36 | $42.51 |
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $19.27 | $24.26 | $32.62 | $31.32 |
Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $24.04 | $24.28 | $25.88 | $25.71 |
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $13.61 | $15.30 | $18.12 | $18.77 |
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $23.54 | $23.23 | $28.96 | $29.35 |
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | $23.84 | $23.76 | $25.77 | $26.05 |
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $12.68 | $15.32 | $16.02 | $16.74 |
Machinists | $23.46 | $19.42 | $19.66 | $21.31 |
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $16.06 | $14.97 | $16.48 | $17.46 |
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $16.33 | $16.56 | $19.03 | $20.34 |
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $24.89 | $24.87 | $22.40 | $35.66 |
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $14.52 | $14.97 | $20.22 | $23.61 |
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $17.13 | $17.31 | $20.75 | $18.17 |
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $20.40 | $17.13 | $20.85 | $18.85 |
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $17.30 | $16.69 | $17.09 | $14.90 |
Semiconductor Processing Technicians | $14.58 | $21.80 | $17.29 | $18.28 |
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $18.75 | $18.01 | $19.97 | $19.81 |
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $12.85 | $12.27 | $14.23 | $14.18 |
Source: Emsi, 2020, Median Hourly Earnings
Manufacturing companies utilizing air transport for their goods also have access to the Nevada Municipal Airport (KNVD). A public use airport, the facility has a strong leadership board dedicated to improvements and adaptations to public need. Currently, Nevada Airport has a 5000’x75’ runway, and has adjacent city-owned land zoned and ready for commercial or industrial use. By 2025, the city will have additional hangers, an updated fueling system, and runway improvement and expansion to 5000’x100’ providing a taxi lane and service.
Contact Us
To discover the opportunities waiting for your business in Vernon County, Missouri, call us at (417) 296-3267 or email bvickers@kaysinger.com.
