Helpers--Production Workers
SOC 51-9198 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Helpers--Production Workers is $36,700, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $38,160, and an estimated 181,810 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +20.3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +2.2% after inflation. BLS projects employment will shrink 8.9% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Helpers--Production Workers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $36,700 | $36,700 | 181,810 |
| 2022 | $34,670 | $36,097 | 190,680 |
| 2021 | $30,000 | $33,735 | 202,860 |
| 2020 | $30,500 | $35,908 | 239,340 |
Nominal change
+20.3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+2.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-8.9%
Declining
Employment 2024
168,500
Projected 2034
153,500
Annual Openings
23,600
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Helpers--Production Workers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $36,700. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $69,440 | +89.2% | 180 |
| Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $51,750 | +41% | 200 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $48,400 | +31.9% | 60 |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $46,630 | +27.1% | 150 |
| Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $46,140 | +25.7% | 70 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,380 | +23.7% | 340 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $43,730 | +19.2% | 280 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $43,400 | +18.3% | 110 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $43,060 | +17.3% | 560 |
| Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $43,030 | +17.2% | 60 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$28,630
25th Pct
$32,400
Median
$36,700
75th Pct
$42,600
90th Pct
$49,910
Related Occupations in Production
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.