WageDepth

Production Occupations in California

100 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 California.

Occupation Median Annual
Gas Plant Operators $124,980
Power Distributors and Dispatchers $116,360
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers $107,270
Power Plant Operators $105,520
Chemical Plant and System Operators $88,280
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $82,100
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers $78,750
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators $78,490
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $77,970
Tool and Die Makers $77,800
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers $77,440
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,250
Plant and System Operators, All Other $73,950
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $71,780
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic $65,570
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers $59,100
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $59,090
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders $58,220
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $57,940
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $57,620
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders $57,150
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters $56,460
Machinists $56,220
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers $56,160
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $55,250
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $54,960
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators $53,350
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers $52,480
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $51,710
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $50,430
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners $50,060
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $50,030
Prepress Technicians and Workers $49,850
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians $49,430
Semiconductor Processing Technicians $49,270
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,780
Dental Laboratory Technicians $48,480
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic $48,390
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,280
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,220
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters $47,870
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $47,840
Upholsterers $47,840
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $47,660
Medical Appliance Technicians $47,380
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers $47,310
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $47,180
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $47,100
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $46,720
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $46,590
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $46,370
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders $46,240
Furniture Finishers $46,060
Printing Press Operators $46,020
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $45,950
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators $45,850
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,640
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,610
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood $45,540
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers $45,390
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,380
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders $45,140
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing $45,020
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $44,970
Woodworkers, All Other $44,930
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other $44,860
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders $44,720
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers $44,420
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders $44,340
Butchers and Meat Cutters $44,310
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $44,230
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders $43,770
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $43,670
Helpers--Production Workers $43,670
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $43,180
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand $43,170
Print Binding and Finishing Workers $42,980
Etchers and Engravers $42,800
Foundry Mold and Coremakers $42,790
Pourers and Casters, Metal $40,770
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders $40,590
Food Batchmakers $40,110
Bakers $39,570
Production Workers, All Other $39,430
Tire Builders $39,400
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $38,830
Slaughterers and Meat Packers $38,660
Food Processing Workers, All Other $38,300
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $38,280
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials $38,160
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other $37,440
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders $37,330
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $37,290
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers $37,120
Sewing Machine Operators $37,010
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $36,790
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders $36,770
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers $36,740
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand $36,470
Sewers, Hand $35,550