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Production Occupations

8,565,760 jobs nationally with a median wage of $46,990 a year.

Group pay range

All jobs in this group, nationally

10%: $34,240Median: $46,99090%: $76,990

Jobs in production occupations

Sorted by median wage

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#OccupationEmploymentMedian wageMean wage
1Nuclear Power Reactor Operators5,150$122,890$121,380
2Power Distributors and Dispatchers8,520$106,730$111,320
3Power Plant Operators29,320$102,040$99,790
4Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers33,160$96,710$90,630
5Gas Plant Operators18,030$87,820$88,710
6Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators28,250$78,620$83,960
7Chemical Plant and System Operators16,610$78,120$79,970
8First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers673,430$74,450$76,600
9Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers28,500$68,120$72,210
10Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers34,020$65,380$71,420
11Tool and Die Makers56,930$64,050$66,860
12Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic5,970$63,870$66,520
13Model Makers, Metal and Plastic2,610$63,340$68,570
14Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers2,950$62,750$71,420
15Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters250$62,620$56,720
16Plant and System Operators, All Other14,080$62,470$65,700
17Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators128,490$60,020$62,540
18Machinists287,050$58,750$59,320
19Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders139,630$58,040$60,710
20Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic1,470$58,000$60,610
21Tire Builders20,770$57,390$57,160
22Model Makers, Wood280$56,550$63,670
23Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders16,780$54,430$55,490
24Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers416,210$53,750$56,760
25Engine and Other Machine Assemblers34,000$53,710$57,790
26Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic12,460$52,800$56,740
27Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers22,440$52,540$57,960
28Pourers and Casters, Metal4,560$51,810$54,290
29Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders60,100$51,610$56,030
30Semiconductor Processing Technicians31,460$51,430$60,180
31Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters52,360$51,330$54,030
32Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators169,450$50,690$54,320
33Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic16,710$50,620$52,490
34Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders96,130$50,270$52,840
35Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic25,250$50,140$53,220
36Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners5,600$50,060$53,240
37Patternmakers, Wood220$49,630$54,240
38Dental Laboratory Technicians34,410$49,610$54,290
39Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic4,680$49,080$51,810
40Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic8,930$49,030$51,680
41Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders94,920$48,990$52,090
42Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic14,000$48,750$50,450
43Prepress Technicians and Workers23,840$48,690$50,800
44Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers597,370$48,570$53,450
45Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders26,000$48,540$51,380
46Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders158,740$48,250$52,620
47Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers12,840$48,220$50,470
48Foundry Mold and Coremakers12,790$48,110$49,860
49Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders14,280$48,040$50,940
50Medical Appliance Technicians11,280$48,030$52,730
51Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders31,600$47,920$50,220
52Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic60,840$47,720$49,480
53Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic124,590$47,180$50,030
54Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators16,170$46,880$49,550
55Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters77,170$46,680$48,290
56Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders44,980$46,570$47,460
57Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic67,000$46,550$48,170
58Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders11,500$46,460$46,850
59Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers12,850$46,350$48,580
60Upholsterers20,140$46,340$47,340
61Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic171,200$46,330$48,430
62Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic33,190$46,170$47,500
63Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other15,900$45,950$48,580
64Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers246,970$45,850$47,660
65Printing Press Operators144,260$45,780$47,360
66Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders58,770$45,760$47,260
67Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders20,370$44,810$45,930
68Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators1,405,030$44,650$46,660
69Furniture Finishers14,480$44,540$45,300
70Woodworkers, All Other5,490$44,530$46,070
71Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic150,470$44,350$45,960
72Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic32,410$43,960$45,100
73Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders14,760$43,530$44,600
74Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing61,420$43,380$43,570
75Etchers and Engravers7,750$43,310$46,320
76Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders379,060$43,220$44,590
77Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood40,850$42,770$43,580
78Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand10,510$42,660$45,020
79Food Batchmakers174,520$42,290$43,750
80Print Binding and Finishing Workers33,180$42,290$44,460
81Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers13,920$41,640$45,140
82Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers7,940$41,600$45,210
83Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders31,250$41,590$42,570
84Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders6,900$41,330$44,940
85Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators4,800$40,610$46,050
86Butchers and Meat Cutters136,430$40,140$42,380
87Slaughterers and Meat Packers69,950$40,130$41,770
88Production Workers, All Other251,700$40,110$44,380
89Food Processing Workers, All Other65,000$39,680$40,300
90Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders13,030$39,530$40,720
91Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians18,660$39,460$43,190
92Helpers--Production Workers165,700$39,070$41,120
93Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders9,000$38,760$39,530
94Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders22,020$38,670$40,120
95Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers145,700$38,300$39,280
96Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders5,310$38,180$40,380
97Cutters and Trimmers, Hand6,060$38,020$41,050
98Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers7,450$37,800$39,160
99Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other13,530$37,280$40,560
100Bakers236,200$37,160$38,480
101Sewing Machine Operators104,880$36,670$37,600
102Sewers, Hand2,190$36,480$37,210
103Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders3,280$35,650$36,280
104Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials26,120$35,060$34,640
105Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers198,040$34,890$34,920