Production Occupations

103 detailed occupations in this SOC major group.

Group employment
8,565,760
Group mean annual wage
$51,600
Group median annual wage
$46,990
OccupationSOCEmploymentMedian annual
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers51-1011673,430$74,450
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers51-9061597,370$48,570
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers51-4121416,210$53,750
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders51-9111379,060$43,220
Machinists51-4041287,050$58,750
Production Workers, All Other51-9199251,700$40,110
Bakers51-3011236,200$37,160
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers51-6011198,040$34,890
Food Batchmakers51-3092174,520$42,290
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4031171,200$46,330
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators51-9161169,450$50,690
Helpers--Production Workers51-9198165,700$39,070
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-9124158,740$48,250
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4072150,470$44,350
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers51-3022145,700$38,300
Printing Press Operators51-5112144,260$45,780
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders51-9011139,630$58,040
Butchers and Meat Cutters51-3021136,430$40,140
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators51-8031128,490$60,020
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4081124,590$47,180
Sewing Machine Operators51-6031104,880$36,670
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-919696,130$50,270
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-902394,920$48,990
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters51-701177,170$46,680
Slaughterers and Meat Packers51-302369,950$40,130
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-403367,000$46,550
Food Processing Workers, All Other51-309965,000$39,680
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing51-704261,420$43,380
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-402160,840$47,720
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-901260,100$51,610
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-904158,770$45,760
Tool and Die Makers51-411156,930$64,050
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters51-204152,360$51,330
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-903244,980$46,570
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood51-704140,850$42,770
Dental Laboratory Technicians51-908134,410$49,610
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers51-201134,020$65,380
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers51-203134,000$53,710
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic51-919533,190$46,170
Print Binding and Finishing Workers51-511333,180$42,290
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers51-809333,160$96,710
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-419332,410$43,960
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-412231,600$47,920
Semiconductor Processing Technicians51-914131,460$51,430
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders51-309331,250$41,590
Power Plant Operators51-801329,320$102,040
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers51-916228,500$68,120
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators51-802128,250$78,620
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials51-602126,120$35,060
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-902126,000$48,540
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-402325,250$50,140
Prepress Technicians and Workers51-511123,840$48,690
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers51-907122,440$52,540
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-606422,020$38,670
Tire Builders51-919720,770$57,390
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders51-309120,370$44,810
Upholsterers51-609320,140$46,340
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians51-908318,660$39,460
Gas Plant Operators51-809218,030$87,820
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders51-405116,780$54,430
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-403416,710$50,620
Chemical Plant and System Operators51-809116,610$78,120
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators51-205116,170$46,880
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other51-419915,900$45,950
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders51-919214,760$43,530
Furniture Finishers51-702114,480$44,540
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders51-905114,280$48,040
Plant and System Operators, All Other51-809914,080$62,470
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-419114,000$48,750
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers51-605213,920$41,640
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other51-609913,530$37,280
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-606313,030$39,530
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers51-609112,850$46,350
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers51-202112,840$48,220
Foundry Mold and Coremakers51-407112,790$48,110
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-403512,460$52,800
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders51-919111,500$46,460
Medical Appliance Technicians51-908211,280$48,030
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand51-902210,510$42,660
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-60629,000$38,760
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-40228,930$49,030
Power Distributors and Dispatchers51-80128,520$106,730
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers51-91237,940$41,600
Etchers and Engravers51-91947,750$43,310
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers51-60417,450$37,800
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders51-91936,900$41,330
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand51-90316,060$38,020
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic51-41925,970$63,870
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners51-41945,600$50,060
Woodworkers, All Other51-70995,490$44,530
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders51-60615,310$38,180
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators51-80115,150$122,890
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators51-91514,800$40,610
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-40324,680$49,080
Pourers and Casters, Metal51-40524,560$51,810
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders51-60423,280$35,650
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers51-60922,950$62,750
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic51-40612,610$63,340
Sewers, Hand51-60512,190$36,480
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic51-40621,470$58,000
Model Makers, Wood51-7031280$56,550
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters51-2061250$62,620
Patternmakers, Wood51-7032220$49,630

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 estimates.