Production Occupations in Ames, IA

26 occupations · 2024 BLS OEWS data

Production occupations include assemblers, machinists, welders, and other factory workers who manufacture goods and operate industrial equipment. The table below shows 2024 wage data for these occupations as reported in Ames, IA.

Occupation	Median Annual	Mean Annual	Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	$67,220	$71,140	310
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	$62,000	$63,700	60
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	$60,490	$58,100	80
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	$59,950	$59,100	220
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$59,540	$55,530	70
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$56,850	$55,790	70
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$56,850	$54,450	40
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$56,230	$55,360	90
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$53,530	$50,460	90
Machinists	$52,750	$55,070	80
Prepress Technicians and Workers	$52,750	$51,850	40
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$51,010	$49,640	50
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators	$50,960	$52,950	70
Food Batchmakers	$49,350	$49,210	90
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$49,310	$51,300	260
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$48,150	$49,140	200
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	$47,630	$43,960	320
Helpers--Production Workers	$47,590	$42,280	50
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$47,490	$47,840	40
Printing Press Operators	$42,850	$48,220	180
Food Processing Workers, All Other	$40,720	$43,080	70
Production Workers, All Other	$38,650	$47,730	160
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	$37,810	$40,210	—
Butchers and Meat Cutters	$35,280	$36,080	150
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	$33,690	$33,070	60
Bakers	$33,590	$32,610	—