Career options for teens today are broader and more dynamic than they were 25 years ago. Then, students often pursued traditional paths—medicine, teaching, law or skilled trades—and a four-year degree was considered essential to success.
Now, technology has opened doors to high-demand jobs that don’t demand a college degree but do require a blend of communication, analytical and technical skills. At Monroe Community College’s Downtown Campus, the Finger Lakes Workforce Development (FWD) Center offers Industry 4.0 training to prepare students for careers in fields, such as robotics, cybersecurity and automation—in as few as three to six months.
(Industry 4.0 is the modern evolution of manufacturing, where smart technology like artificial intelligence, robotics and connected devices work together to automate processes and make real-time decisions.)
“If you can learn to play video games or use a smartphone, you can learn to operate a robot or 3D printer,” says Willis Major, FWD Center manager and longtime engineer. Entry-level roles can pay $20 to $30 per hour, with the potential for overtime and long-term salaries up to $90,000.
Major, who grew up in Rochester and worked at General Motors Company and Tesla Inc., credits much of his success to on-the-job learning. “I still had to train on the same types of Industry 4.0 technologies that the FWD Center now offers,” he says. “Honestly, this material is easier to learn than the science and math you take in high school.”
The Center’s hands-on, visual approach is geared toward learners who thrive by doing. Through programs like the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), students can earn stackable credentials to prove skills to employers. Other certifications cover everything from programmable logic controllers to AI and semiconductor equipment.
The payoff can be significant. Operator training takes just a few months, with full-time positions starting at around $40,000 annually. Technician roles, which take a little longer, start at $60,000 and can climb with experience. “Many positions also offer overtime, which could add another $10,000 to $40,000 a year,” Major notes.
With the New York SMART I-Corridor recently named a Tech Hub, the demand for skilled workers in advanced manufacturing is expected to soar—especially in the semiconductor sector. Local companies like L3Harris Technologies Inc., Bausch + Lomb and Eastman Kodak Co. already seek workers with Industry 4.0 skills, Major says.
“Employers today want more than just tech knowledge,” he adds. “They’re looking for communication, critical thinking and the ability to adapt. That’s what will set students apart.”