Average Salary for Helpers--Production Workers
SOC 51-9198 · Production Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Helpers--Production Workers in the United States is $38,220 ($18.38/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $30,060 at the 10th percentile to $52,120 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 167,490 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 61.9% since 2014.
Median Annual
$38,220
Mean Annual
$40,080
10th Pct
$30,060
75th Pct
$44,980
Employment
167,490
Salary Distribution
$30k
10th
$34k
25th
$38k
Median
$45k
75th
$52k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Pittsfield, MA | $53,250 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $53,010 |
| Reading, PA | $52,780 |
| Napa, CA | $52,460 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $50,660 |
| Traverse City, MI | $49,480 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,000 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $48,930 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $48,830 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $48,380 |
| Dubuque, IA | $48,290 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $48,140 |
| Ames, IA | $47,590 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $47,500 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $47,480 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Vermont | $46,480 |
| Iowa | $46,000 |
| North Dakota | $44,210 |
| Washington | $43,720 |
| Wisconsin | $43,690 |
| California | $43,670 |
| Colorado | $43,010 |
| Alaska | $43,010 |
| Maryland | $42,920 |
| Hawaii | $42,720 |
| Minnesota | $42,240 |
| Montana | $42,100 |
| Maine | $42,070 |
| New York | $41,490 |
| Oregon | $41,410 |
| West Virginia | $40,470 |
| Illinois | $40,180 |
| Michigan | $40,040 |
| Wyoming | $40,040 |
| Nevada | $39,890 |
| New Jersey | $39,530 |
| Missouri | $39,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,350 |
| Massachusetts | $39,250 |
| Ohio | $39,190 |
| Nebraska | $39,170 |
| Kentucky | $39,060 |
| Connecticut | $38,680 |
| Idaho | $38,430 |
| New Hampshire | $38,380 |
| Kansas | $38,220 |
| Indiana | $38,190 |
| North Carolina | $37,540 |
| Arizona | $37,440 |
| Tennessee | $37,340 |
| Delaware | $37,300 |
| Louisiana | $36,910 |
| Florida | $36,660 |
| Rhode Island | $36,490 |
| Virginia | $36,380 |
| Texas | $36,300 |
| South Carolina | $36,120 |
| Utah | $35,940 |
| Georgia | $35,940 |
| Arkansas | $35,580 |
| Oklahoma | $35,130 |
| New Mexico | $35,130 |
| Alabama | $34,520 |
| Mississippi | $31,900 |
| Guam | $23,550 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,120 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Helpers--Production Workers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $68,180 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $67,760 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $66,270 |
| Rail Transportation | $64,590 |
| Rail Transportation | $64,590 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $62,440 |
| Hospitals | $59,990 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $59,120 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $59,120 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $59,120 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $58,660 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $55,560 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $54,240 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $53,070 |
| Automotive Mechanical and Electrical Repair and Maintenance | $51,660 |
| Utilities | $51,530 |
| Utilities | $51,530 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $50,670 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $50,670 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $50,520 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $50,520 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $50,330 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $49,000 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,560 |
| Other Support Services | $48,210 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $48,080 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $48,080 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $47,820 |
| Educational Services | $46,980 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $46,500 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $46,500 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $46,500 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $45,890 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $45,730 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $44,750 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $44,730 |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services | $44,720 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $44,580 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $44,110 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $44,080 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $44,020 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $43,960 |
| Engineering Services | $43,820 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $43,180 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $43,010 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $42,940 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | $42,780 |
| Automotive Body, Paint, Interior, and Glass Repair | $42,730 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $42,680 |
| Masonry Contractors | $42,560 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | $42,510 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $42,330 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $42,210 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | $42,070 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $42,040 |
| Educational Services | $41,680 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $41,680 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $41,560 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $41,530 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $41,510 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | $41,430 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors | $41,410 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $41,410 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | $41,100 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $40,890 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $40,890 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $40,890 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $40,860 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $40,860 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $40,830 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $40,580 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $40,560 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | $40,550 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $40,540 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $40,430 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $40,310 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $40,230 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $40,170 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $40,110 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $39,900 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $39,900 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $39,880 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $39,800 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $39,610 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $39,490 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $39,480 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $39,480 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $39,470 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | $39,450 |
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | $39,440 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $39,440 |
| Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $39,350 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $39,340 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $39,310 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | $39,310 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $39,190 |
| Foundries | $39,170 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $39,070 |
| Waste Collection | $39,060 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $39,060 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $39,060 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $38,930 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $38,920 |
| Construction | $38,810 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $38,760 |
| Manufacturing | $38,690 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $38,560 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $38,560 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $38,540 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $38,530 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $38,510 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $38,470 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $38,460 |
| Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $38,430 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | $38,420 |
| Information | $38,390 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $38,340 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $38,330 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | $38,330 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $38,320 |
| Utility System Construction | $38,320 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $38,300 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $38,290 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $38,280 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $38,220 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $38,170 |
| Machine Shops | $38,140 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $37,990 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $37,960 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $37,960 |
| Retail Trade | $37,920 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $37,920 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $37,870 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $37,830 |
| Fabric Mills | $37,830 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $37,680 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $37,460 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $37,440 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | $37,430 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $37,420 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $37,420 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,030 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,030 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,030 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $37,020 |
| Food Manufacturing | $36,930 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | $36,900 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry | $36,900 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | $36,820 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $36,810 |
| Automobile Dealers | $36,810 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $36,670 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $36,600 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $36,520 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $36,360 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $36,340 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $36,260 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $36,120 |
| Sporting Goods Retailers | $36,120 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $36,100 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | $36,050 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | $35,890 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | $35,800 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $35,800 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | $35,770 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $35,770 |
| Specialized Design Services | $35,730 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $35,620 |
| Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | $35,490 |
| Apparel Manufacturing | $35,490 |
| Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | $35,420 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $35,420 |
| Wholesale Trade | $35,380 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $35,370 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $35,370 |
| Full-Service Restaurants | $35,360 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | $35,320 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $35,210 |
| Other Textile Product Mills | $35,080 |
| Textile Mills | $35,000 |
| Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | $34,980 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $34,970 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $34,910 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $34,900 |
| Employment Services | $34,770 |
| Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | $34,630 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $34,600 |
| Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | $34,570 |
| Textile Product Mills | $34,540 |
| Temporary Help Services | $34,510 |
| Construction of Buildings | $34,470 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | $34,420 |
| Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers | $34,410 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $34,300 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $34,190 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $33,980 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $33,980 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $33,700 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | $33,130 |
| Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers | $33,130 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $33,100 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | $33,040 |
| Residential Building Construction | $33,030 |
| Special Food Services | $32,790 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $32,690 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $32,380 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $32,380 |
| Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | $32,210 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $31,960 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $31,930 |
| Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | $31,880 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) | $31,680 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers | $31,680 |
| Tobacco Manufacturing | $31,550 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $31,400 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $31,230 |
| Social Assistance | $31,230 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $31,210 |
| Publishing Industries | $31,020 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $31,020 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only) | $29,580 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $29,520 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | $29,030 |
| Other Personal Services | $28,610 |
| Photographic Services | $28,420 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | $28,080 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $27,660 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $26,000 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $26,000 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $18,910 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,220 |
| 2023 | $36,700 |
| 2022 | $34,670 |
| 2021 | $30,000 |
| 2020 | $30,500 |
| 2019 | $29,100 |
| 2018 | $27,730 |
| 2017 | $26,070 |
| 2016 | $24,830 |
| 2015 | $23,960 |
| 2014 | $23,610 |