Tire Builders
Tire Builders (SOC 51-9197) earn a median $57,390 a year ($27.59 an hour) in the United States, with 20,770 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Tennessee.
What tire builders do
Tire builders operate machines that build tires, including retreading worn ones. In recapping and retreading, the process begins with a buffed casing, onto which the worker builds a semi-raw rubber tread to prepare the tire for curing. Excess rubber and imperfections are trimmed, and cuts and holes are filled with hot rubber. Titles such as bead builder, belt builder, and automobile tire recapper reflect the stages. The SOC definition is a single sentence, so the title and the retreading tasks are the main guide to the work, and the machines and materials handled depend on whether it is new tire building or retreading. Tire builders prepare tires for vulcanization; the curing itself is a later step. Mechanics who mount and repair tires on vehicles are in the installation and repair group.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Automobile Tire Builder (Auto Tire Builder), Automobile Tire Recapper (Auto Tire Recapper), Bead Builder, Belt Builder, Belt Machine Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.31 | $23.03 | $27.59 | $30.95 | $35.91 | $27.48 | 20,770 |
| Annual | $40,150 | $47,900 | $57,390 | $64,380 | $74,680 | $57,160 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where tire builders earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $21.90 | $31.42 | $35.63 | $35.63 | $39.52 | $32.88 | 1,360 | 0.42 | 3.11 |
| Annual | $45,560 | $65,350 | $74,100 | $74,100 | $82,190 | $68,380 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $22.96 | $24.72 | $30.74 | $30.95 | $38.34 | $29.54 | 3,750 | 0.76 | 5.68 |
| Annual | $47,750 | $51,420 | $63,950 | $64,380 | $79,740 | $61,450 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $28.69 | $28.76 | $28.76 | $28.76 | $33.79 | $28.95 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $59,680 | $59,830 | $59,830 | $59,830 | $70,270 | $60,220 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $19.41 | $27.10 | $27.10 | $29.97 | $36.16 | $27.58 | 780 | 0.14 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $40,370 | $56,370 | $56,370 | $62,330 | $75,210 | $57,360 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.15 | $23.58 | $26.39 | $27.27 | $28.32 | $25.22 | 610 | 0.04 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $46,070 | $49,040 | $54,880 | $56,730 | $58,910 | $52,470 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $22.96 | $24.72 | $30.74 | $30.95 | $38.34 | $29.54 | 3,750 | 0.76 | 5.68 |
| Annual | $47,750 | $51,420 | $63,950 | $64,380 | $79,740 | $61,450 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $21.90 | $31.42 | $35.63 | $35.63 | $39.52 | $32.88 | 1,360 | 0.42 | 3.11 |
| Annual | $45,560 | $65,350 | $74,100 | $74,100 | $82,190 | $68,380 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $19.52 | $24.04 | $24.60 | $24.60 | $28.11 | $24.45 | 1,320 | 0.41 | 3.09 |
| Annual | $40,590 | $50,000 | $51,170 | $51,170 | $58,470 | $50,850 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $17.29 | $17.90 | $21.26 | $23.60 | $23.83 | $20.93 | 940 | 0.19 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $35,970 | $37,240 | $44,220 | $49,080 | $49,560 | $43,520 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $19.41 | $27.10 | $27.10 | $29.97 | $36.16 | $27.58 | 780 | 0.14 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $40,370 | $56,370 | $56,370 | $62,330 | $75,210 | $57,360 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | Hourly | $18.58 | $24.33 | $30.32 | $30.32 | $30.69 | $27.53 | 310 | 0.78 | 5.81 |
| Annual | $38,650 | $50,600 | $63,060 | $63,060 | $63,820 | $57,260 | ||||
| Jackson, MS | Hourly | $23.19 | $23.19 | $26.62 | $26.62 | $26.62 | $24.85 | 130 | 0.48 | 3.58 |
| Annual | $48,230 | $48,230 | $55,380 | $55,380 | $55,380 | $51,690 | ||||
| Fort Wayne, IN | Hourly | $24.60 | $24.60 | $24.60 | $28.11 | $28.11 | $25.33 | 720 | 3.20 | 23.93 |
| Annual | $51,170 | $51,170 | $51,170 | $58,470 | $58,470 | $52,680 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $17.87 | $21.62 | $23.41 | $25.64 | $27.57 | $23.38 | 280 | 0.21 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $37,160 | $44,970 | $48,690 | $53,330 | $57,350 | $48,640 | ||||
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | Hourly | $18.53 | $21.58 | $22.69 | $24.04 | $26.64 | $22.68 | 90 | 0.08 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $38,550 | $44,890 | $47,190 | $50,000 | $55,410 | $47,170 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $17.63 | $18.06 | $21.43 | $23.60 | $23.60 | $21.02 | 740 | 0.26 | 1.92 |
| Annual | $36,680 | $37,560 | $44,570 | $49,080 | $49,080 | $43,710 | ||||
| Fort Wayne, IN | Hourly | $24.60 | $24.60 | $24.60 | $28.11 | $28.11 | $25.33 | 720 | 3.20 | 23.93 |
| Annual | $51,170 | $51,170 | $51,170 | $58,470 | $58,470 | $52,680 | ||||
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | Hourly | $18.58 | $24.33 | $30.32 | $30.32 | $30.69 | $27.53 | 310 | 0.78 | 5.81 |
| Annual | $38,650 | $50,600 | $63,060 | $63,060 | $63,820 | $57,260 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $17.87 | $21.62 | $23.41 | $25.64 | $27.57 | $23.38 | 280 | 0.21 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $37,160 | $44,970 | $48,690 | $53,330 | $57,350 | $48,640 | ||||
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | Hourly | $19.11 | $19.41 | $22.50 | $22.74 | $23.90 | $22.29 | 150 | 0.14 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $39,740 | $40,370 | $46,810 | $47,290 | $49,720 | $46,370 | ||||
Top industries employing tire builders
Rubber Product Manufacturing employ 95.0% of tire builders nationally (19,730 jobs) at a median $58,910 a year ($28.32 an hour), followed by Employment Services (1.2%) and Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (0.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber Product Manufacturing NAICS 326200 | 19,730 | 95.0% | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 250 | 1.2% | $37,830 | $18.19 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423100 | 110 | 0.5% | $38,810 | $18.66 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (20,770). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $47,940 for tire builders in May 2021 and $57,390 in May 2025, with employment of 17,240 and 20,770.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $47,940 | $23.05 | 17,240 |
| May 2022 | $51,650 | $24.83 | 18,360 |
| May 2023 | $54,080 | $26.00 | 20,660 |
| May 2024 | $55,580 | $26.72 | 20,970 |
| May 2025 | $57,390 | $27.59 | 20,770 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
20 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee profile | $35.63 | $74,100 | $45,560 | $82,190 | 1,360 | 0.42 | 3.11 |
| 2 | North Carolina profile | $30.74 | $63,950 | $47,750 | $79,740 | 3,750 | 0.76 | 5.68 |
| 3 | Illinois profile | $28.76 | $59,830 | $59,680 | $70,270 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | Ohio profile | $27.10 | $56,370 | $40,370 | $75,210 | 780 | 0.14 | 1.05 |
| 5 | Texas profile | $26.39 | $54,880 | $46,070 | $58,910 | 610 | 0.04 | 0.32 |
| 6 | Mississippi profile | $25.51 | $53,050 | $44,480 | $55,380 | 710 | 0.61 | 4.56 |
| 7 | Indiana profile | $24.60 | $51,170 | $40,590 | $58,470 | 1,320 | 0.41 | 3.09 |
| 8 | Iowa profile | $24.33 | $50,600 | $38,650 | $63,820 | 510 | 0.33 | 2.45 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $23.38 | $48,630 | $38,910 | $65,940 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.40 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $23.26 | $48,380 | $39,440 | $57,360 | 250 | 0.13 | 0.93 |
| 11 | New York profile | $22.38 | $46,550 | $38,550 | $47,470 | 530 | 0.06 | 0.41 |
| 12 | Maryland profile | $22.26 | $46,290 | $37,320 | $72,820 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| 13 | Kentucky profile | $22.12 | $46,010 | $32,050 | $55,020 | 270 | 0.14 | 1.01 |
| 14 | Oklahoma profile | $22.04 | $45,830 | $37,700 | $59,340 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Arizona profile | $22.00 | $45,770 | $38,510 | $64,900 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.31 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania profile | $21.77 | $45,270 | $37,550 | $49,450 | 360 | 0.06 | 0.45 |
| 17 | California profile | $21.54 | $44,790 | $37,830 | $49,610 | 360 | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $21.36 | $44,420 | $39,140 | $53,920 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.14 |
| 19 | Georgia profile | $21.26 | $44,220 | $35,970 | $49,560 | 940 | 0.19 | 1.45 |
| 20 | Florida profile | $21.23 | $44,150 | $38,360 | $75,490 | 170 | 0.02 | 0.13 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-9190), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-9197 Tire Builders.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- 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.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-9197, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-9197.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.