Production Occupations
SOC 51-0000 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Production Occupations is $43,630, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $47,620, and an estimated 8,770,170 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +16.5% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -1% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Production Occupations 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 | $43,630 | $43,630 | 8,770,170 |
| 2022 | $39,910 | $41,553 | 8,738,980 |
| 2021 | $37,710 | $42,404 | 8,408,030 |
| 2020 | $37,440 | $44,079 | 8,519,410 |
Nominal change
+16.5%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-1%
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Production Occupations earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $43,630. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $66,460 | +52.3% | 4,370 |
| Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $62,100 | +42.3% | 4,980 |
| West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $56,850 | +30.3% | 5,170 |
| Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $56,710 | +30% | 4,310 |
| Wyoming | $54,830 | +25.7% | 13,320 |
| Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $51,750 | +18.6% | 5,460 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $50,960 | +16.8% | 7,820 |
| Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $50,360 | +15.4% | 2,540 |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $49,220 | +12.8% | 4,600 |
| Washington | $48,720 | +11.7% | 161,720 |
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
$30,550
25th Pct
$35,980
Median
$43,630
75th Pct
$54,880
90th Pct
$70,370
Related Occupations in Production
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.