Production Occupations

SOC major group 51-0000: 105 detailed occupations, 105 with a published national median (May 2025). The group employs 8,565,760 people nationally.

The group as a whole

Production Occupations: national wage percentiles, May 2025
AreaBasisPercentile wageMeanEmployment
10th25thMedian75th90th
United StatesHourly$16.46$18.33$22.59$28.81$37.02$24.818,565,760
Annual$34,240$38,130$46,990$59,920$76,990$51,600

Every occupation in the group, by median annual wage

OccupationSOCMedian hourlyMedian annualMean annualEmployment
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators51-8011$59.08$122,890$121,3805,150
Power Distributors and Dispatchers51-8012$51.31$106,730$111,3208,520
Power Plant Operators51-8013$49.06$102,040$99,79029,320
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers51-8093$46.50$96,710$90,63033,160
Gas Plant Operators51-8092$42.22$87,820$88,71018,030
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators51-8021$37.80$78,620$83,96028,250
Chemical Plant and System Operators51-8091$37.56$78,120$79,97016,610
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers51-1011$35.79$74,450$76,600673,430
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers51-9162$32.75$68,120$72,21028,500
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers51-2011$31.43$65,380$71,42034,020
Tool and Die Makers51-4111$30.79$64,050$66,86056,930
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic51-4192$30.71$63,870$66,5205,970
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic51-4061$30.45$63,340$68,5702,610
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers51-6092$30.17$62,750$71,4202,950
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters51-2061$30.11$62,620$56,720250
Plant and System Operators, All Other51-8099$30.03$62,470$65,70014,080
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators51-8031$28.86$60,020$62,540128,490
Machinists51-4041$28.24$58,750$59,320287,050
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders51-9011$27.90$58,040$60,710139,630
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic51-4062$27.89$58,000$60,6101,470
Tire Builders51-9197$27.59$57,390$57,16020,770
Model Makers, Wood51-7031$27.19$56,550$63,670280
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders51-4051$26.17$54,430$55,49016,780
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers51-4121$25.84$53,750$56,760416,210
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers51-2031$25.82$53,710$57,79034,000
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4035$25.39$52,800$56,74012,460
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers51-9071$25.26$52,540$57,96022,440
Pourers and Casters, Metal51-4052$24.91$51,810$54,2904,560
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-9012$24.81$51,610$56,03060,100
Semiconductor Processing Technicians51-9141$24.73$51,430$60,18031,460
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters51-2041$24.68$51,330$54,03052,360
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators51-9161$24.37$50,690$54,320169,450
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4034$24.34$50,620$52,49016,710
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-9196$24.17$50,270$52,84096,130
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4023$24.10$50,140$53,22025,250
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners51-4194$24.07$50,060$53,2405,600
Patternmakers, Wood51-7032$23.86$49,630$54,240220
Dental Laboratory Technicians51-9081$23.85$49,610$54,29034,410
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4032$23.60$49,080$51,8104,680
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4022$23.57$49,030$51,6808,930
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-9023$23.55$48,990$52,09094,920
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4191$23.44$48,750$50,45014,000
Prepress Technicians and Workers51-5111$23.41$48,690$50,80023,840
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers51-9061$23.35$48,570$53,450597,370
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-9021$23.34$48,540$51,38026,000
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-9124$23.20$48,250$52,620158,740
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers51-2021$23.18$48,220$50,47012,840
Foundry Mold and Coremakers51-4071$23.13$48,110$49,86012,790
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders51-9051$23.10$48,040$50,94014,280
Medical Appliance Technicians51-9082$23.09$48,030$52,73011,280
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-4122$23.04$47,920$50,22031,600
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4021$22.94$47,720$49,48060,840
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4081$22.68$47,180$50,030124,590
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators51-2051$22.54$46,880$49,55016,170
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters51-7011$22.44$46,680$48,29077,170
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-9032$22.39$46,570$47,46044,980
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4033$22.38$46,550$48,17067,000
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders51-9191$22.34$46,460$46,85011,500
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers51-6091$22.29$46,350$48,58012,850
Upholsterers51-6093$22.28$46,340$47,34020,140
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4031$22.27$46,330$48,430171,200
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic51-9195$22.20$46,170$47,50033,190
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other51-4199$22.09$45,950$48,58015,900
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers51-2028$22.04$45,850$47,660246,970
Printing Press Operators51-5112$22.01$45,780$47,360144,260
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-9041$22.00$45,760$47,26058,770
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders51-3091$21.54$44,810$45,93020,370
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators51-2090$21.47$44,650$46,6601,405,030
Furniture Finishers51-7021$21.41$44,540$45,30014,480
Woodworkers, All Other51-7099$21.41$44,530$46,0705,490
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4072$21.32$44,350$45,960150,470
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic51-4193$21.14$43,960$45,10032,410
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders51-9192$20.93$43,530$44,60014,760
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing51-7042$20.86$43,380$43,57061,420
Etchers and Engravers51-9194$20.82$43,310$46,3207,750
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders51-9111$20.78$43,220$44,590379,060
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood51-7041$20.56$42,770$43,58040,850
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand51-9022$20.51$42,660$45,02010,510
Food Batchmakers51-3092$20.33$42,290$43,750174,520
Print Binding and Finishing Workers51-5113$20.33$42,290$44,46033,180
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers51-6052$20.02$41,640$45,14013,920
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers51-9123$20.00$41,600$45,2107,940
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders51-3093$20.00$41,590$42,57031,250
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders51-9193$19.87$41,330$44,9406,900
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators51-9151$19.52$40,610$46,0504,800
Butchers and Meat Cutters51-3021$19.30$40,140$42,380136,430
Slaughterers and Meat Packers51-3023$19.29$40,130$41,77069,950
Production Workers, All Other51-9199$19.29$40,110$44,380251,700
Food Processing Workers, All Other51-3099$19.08$39,680$40,30065,000
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-6063$19.01$39,530$40,72013,030
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians51-9083$18.97$39,460$43,19018,660
Helpers--Production Workers51-9198$18.78$39,070$41,120165,700
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-6062$18.64$38,760$39,5309,000
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders51-6064$18.59$38,670$40,12022,020
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers51-3022$18.41$38,300$39,280145,700
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders51-6061$18.36$38,180$40,3805,310
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand51-9031$18.28$38,020$41,0506,060
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers51-6041$18.17$37,800$39,1607,450
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other51-6099$17.93$37,280$40,56013,530
Bakers51-3011$17.86$37,160$38,480236,200
Sewing Machine Operators51-6031$17.63$36,670$37,600104,880
Sewers, Hand51-6051$17.54$36,480$37,2102,190
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders51-6042$17.14$35,650$36,2803,280
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials51-6021$16.85$35,060$34,64026,120
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers51-6011$16.78$34,890$34,920198,040

Source and notes

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: National OEWS estimates.

  • Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
  • Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.