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Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) announced increased starting wages and shift differential wages for U.S. manufacturing positions as part of its ongoing investment in employees and commitment to meeting growing customer demand worldwide.
Effective August 16, the starting wage for employees who directly support production of SEL products increased to $26.00 per hour. The increase builds on the April 2026 adjustment that raised its manufacturing starting wage to $21.50 per hour and underscores the ongoing commitment of employee-owned SEL to investing in the employees who make its success possible.
New wages by shift:
- Day Shift: $26.00 per hour
- Swing Shift: $31.00 per hour
- Third Shift: $36.00 per hour
- Weekend Shift: $36.00 per hour
“Our production teams and the employees who directly support production are at the heart of what we do,” said Leith Sorenson, SEL senior vice president of manufacturing. “Every day, their skill, dedication and commitment help deliver products that serve customers around the world. As demand continues to grow, we’re making a significant investment in these critical roles to strengthen our workforce, support our customers and position SEL for continued growth.”
“Our success is deeply connected to the success of the communities we call home,” said SEL founder Ed Schweitzer. “From Pullman, Moscow, Lewiston and Clarkston to Charlotte and West Lafayette, the economic impact reaches families, businesses and neighborhoods, creating opportunities that benefit generations to come. And that’s the beauty of our economic and political freedom and the success of SEL.”
The compensation investment by SEL reflects a focus on expanding and retaining its manufacturing workforce to support continued growth, reduce lead times and ensure customers receive products when they need them.
“These changes recognize the important role our production teams play in our success and help us attract and retain the talented people needed to meet growing customer demand,” said SEL President Dave Whitehead. “By investing in our employees, we’re investing in our ability to serve customers and fulfill our mission of making electric power safer, more reliable and more economical.”
SEL continues to hire across manufacturing and production support functions as it expands capacity to meet growing demand. The company currently has more than 300 open assembler positions across U.S. factories in Washington, Idaho, Indiana, North Carolina and Illinois as well as more than 800 career opportunities globally.
