WageDepth

Production Occupations in U.S.

104 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 U.S..

Occupation Median Annual
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators $122,610
Power Distributors and Dispatchers $107,240
Power Plant Operators $99,670
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers $97,540
Gas Plant Operators $83,400
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators $75,190
Chemical Plant and System Operators $73,540
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $71,190
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers $67,670
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers $65,670
Tool and Die Makers $63,180
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $62,700
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $61,870
Plant and System Operators, All Other $61,710
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers $61,680
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $58,260
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders $57,090
Machinists $56,150
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders $55,770
Tire Builders $55,580
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic $54,540
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers $52,540
Patternmakers, Wood $52,520
Model Makers, Wood $51,850
Semiconductor Processing Technicians $51,180
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $51,000
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $49,970
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters $49,900
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $49,500
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $49,390
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $49,240
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers $49,140
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners $48,970
Pourers and Casters, Metal $48,940
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,630
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,620
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,310
Dental Laboratory Technicians $48,310
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $47,680
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $47,590
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,460
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $47,450
Prepress Technicians and Workers $47,300
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $47,260
Medical Appliance Technicians $47,060
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $47,060
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders $47,010
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $46,980
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $46,890
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $46,630
Upholsterers $46,190
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $46,060
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters $46,020
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators $45,760
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $45,700
Foundry Mold and Coremakers $45,700
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic $45,690
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,590
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders $45,210
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,190
Printing Press Operators $45,160
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $45,130
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers $44,980
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $44,040
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other $42,750
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders $42,730
Furniture Finishers $42,530
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand $41,690
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $41,600
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders $41,460
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $41,230
Woodworkers, All Other $41,220
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $40,900
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers $40,860
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers $40,860
Food Batchmakers $40,790
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters $40,790
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders $40,550
Etchers and Engravers $40,450
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing $40,440
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders $40,160
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators $40,100
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood $39,950
Print Binding and Finishing Workers $39,820
Slaughterers and Meat Packers $39,790
Butchers and Meat Cutters $38,960
Production Workers, All Other $38,820
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand $38,800
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians $38,420
Food Processing Workers, All Other $38,420
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $38,260
Helpers--Production Workers $38,220
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders $38,160
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $37,940
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $37,700
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $37,660
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders $37,320
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other $37,010
Bakers $36,650
Sewing Machine Operators $36,000
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers $35,950
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials $33,880
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers $33,800
Sewers, Hand $33,760