Production Occupations

All detailed occupations in the SOC 51-0000 major group, with the latest national median wage and employment from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. 104 occupations.

Production occupations with national median wage and employment, BLS OEWS.
Occupation SOC Median Annual Employment
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 51-1011 $169,396 181,983
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators 51-8011 $120,350 5,760
Power Distributors and Dispatchers 51-8012 $104,750 9,040
Power Plant Operators 51-8013 $97,010 31,490
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers 51-8093 $94,580 33,360
Gas Plant Operators 51-8092 $82,560 15,930
Chemical Plant and System Operators 51-8091 $80,030 17,980
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators 51-8021 $67,640 33,840
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic 51-4061 $64,190 2,840
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers 51-9162 $63,440 28,030
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers 51-6092 $62,510 2,670
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic 51-4192 $62,270 6,660
Tool and Die Makers 51-4111 $61,490 58,150
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers 51-2011 $61,240 29,810
Plant and System Operators, All Other 51-8099 $56,940 15,370
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators 51-8031 $54,890 120,710
Tire Builders 51-9197 $54,080 20,660
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders 51-9011 $51,720 120,260
Machinists 51-4041 $50,840 290,720
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers 51-2031 $50,270 47,960
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders 51-4051 $50,250 20,870
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic 51-4062 $49,670 2,150
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 51-4121 $48,940 421,730
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters 51-2061 $48,840 400
Pourers and Casters, Metal 51-4052 $48,690 5,460
Patternmakers, Wood 51-7032 $48,630 260
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161 $48,550 187,670
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters 51-2041 $48,480 57,810
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9012 $48,120 53,170
Dental Laboratory Technicians 51-9081 $47,690 34,190
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers 51-9071 $47,450 24,060
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9196 $47,250 96,460
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4035 $47,200 13,990
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4034 $47,110 19,560
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4023 $47,040 24,750
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4022 $46,990 9,170
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners 51-4194 $46,410 6,660
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9023 $46,100 105,740
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 51-9061 $45,850 584,630
Semiconductor Processing Technicians 51-9141 $45,850 26,450
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders 51-9051 $45,640 14,820
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9124 $45,560 155,880
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-4122 $45,350 33,020
Prepress Technicians and Workers 51-5111 $45,070 23,590
Model Makers, Wood 51-7031 $45,040 590
Medical Appliance Technicians 51-9082 $44,960 12,550
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers 51-2021 $44,890 11,900
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4032 $44,620 5,740
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9021 $44,510 26,210
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4021 $44,390 63,370
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9032 $44,310 52,720
Foundry Mold and Coremakers 51-4071 $44,300 11,780
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4191 $44,240 14,950
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers 51-6091 $44,030 14,520
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders 51-9191 $43,540 12,510
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic 51-9195 $43,310 38,480
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters 51-7011 $43,260 88,460
Upholsterers 51-6093 $42,730 25,740
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9041 $42,670 57,080
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4033 $42,610 75,260
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders 51-9193 $42,420 6,500
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4031 $42,400 179,230
Printing Press Operators 51-5112 $41,860 151,450
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4081 $41,600 127,790
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other 51-4199 $41,200 20,370
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers 51-2028 $40,490 267,440
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers 51-9123 $40,230 10,700
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators 51-2051 $40,200 20,380
Etchers and Engravers 51-9194 $40,040 8,140
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders 51-3091 $39,850 19,570
Furniture Finishers 51-7021 $39,790 14,380
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4193 $39,740 31,970
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders 51-9192 $39,340 15,210
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand 51-9022 $38,940 12,290
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4072 $38,870 158,980
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders 51-3093 $38,550 29,730
Food Batchmakers 51-3092 $38,460 169,190
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 51-9111 $38,330 371,600
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing 51-7042 $38,260 61,250
Slaughterers and Meat Packers 51-3023 $38,160 71,310
Print Binding and Finishing Workers 51-5113 $38,100 38,880
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood 51-7041 $38,000 43,570
Woodworkers, All Other 51-7099 $37,760 7,830
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians 51-9083 $37,720 18,240
Butchers and Meat Cutters 51-3021 $37,650 136,330
Production Workers, All Other 51-9199 $37,430 243,500
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-6063 $37,130 15,980
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand 51-9031 $37,040 7,220
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders 51-6042 $36,970 4,630
Food Processing Workers, All Other 51-3099 $36,890 63,970
Helpers--Production Workers 51-9198 $36,700 181,810
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers 51-6052 $36,650 14,950
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-6062 $36,620 9,760
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers 51-3022 $36,300 138,300
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers 51-6041 $36,020 7,230
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators 51-9151 $35,620 5,770
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-6064 $35,530 23,550
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders 51-6061 $35,340 6,650
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other 51-6099 $35,130 15,080
Bakers 51-3011 $34,950 220,230
Sewing Machine Operators 51-6031 $34,440 116,130
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials 51-6021 $32,240 28,700
Sewers, Hand 51-6051 $32,240 3,390
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers 51-6011 $31,050 185,000
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