occupation · 51-0000 · major
Production Occupations — wages and employment
Production Occupations earned a median annual wage of $45,960 in the United States in May 2024, with 8,743,450 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
What stands out
Production Occupations earned a median annual wage of $45,960 in the United States in May 2024, with 8,743,450 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The lowest-paid tenth earned $32,640 or less, the best-paid tenth $74,920 or more. Since May 2023 the median moved from $43,630 to $45,960, +5.3 %. The best-paying state is District of Columbia at $62,460; the lowest Puerto Rico at $23,630. Among metropolitan areas, Kokomo, IN pays the highest median, $73,540. Wages are as published by BLS for May of each year; '≥ $239,200' is BLS's top code. Every value links to its fact record.
United States, year by year
Annual wages at the median, mean and four percentiles; employment is the May estimate.
| Reference | Employment | Median | Mean | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th | Median hourly | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | 8,743,450 | $45,960 | $50,090 | $32,640 | $37,390 | $58,290 | $74,920 | $22.09 | evidence → |
| May 2023 | 8,770,170 | $43,630 | $47,620 | $30,550 | $35,980 | $54,880 | $70,370 | $20.98 | evidence → |
By state
Median annual wage, May 2024, highest first. Each state has its own record with the full series.
| State | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $62,460 | 4,460 |
| Wyoming | $60,620 | 13,430 |
| Alaska | $53,440 | 9,220 |
| Washington | $51,490 | 162,050 |
| North Dakota | $49,920 | 24,210 |
| Colorado | $49,230 | 93,310 |
| Louisiana | $48,980 | 102,150 |
| Oregon | $48,710 | 112,280 |
| Connecticut | $48,540 | 83,900 |
| New Hampshire | $48,330 | 40,710 |
| Minnesota | $48,210 | 205,220 |
| Wisconsin | $48,040 | 308,310 |
| Maryland | $47,940 | 64,890 |
| Massachusetts | $47,760 | 146,050 |
| Nebraska | $47,700 | 73,800 |
| Rhode Island | $47,620 | 28,180 |
| Vermont | $47,570 | 16,790 |
| Iowa | $47,560 | 145,790 |
| Maine | $47,550 | 34,560 |
| Hawaii | $47,330 | 14,100 |
| Kansas | $47,030 | 117,610 |
| Montana | $46,910 | 18,320 |
| New York | $46,870 | 295,050 |
| California | $46,860 | 775,080 |
| Arizona | $46,820 | 126,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,790 | 367,030 |
| Kentucky | $46,560 | 190,670 |
| Missouri | $46,470 | 197,350 |
| Nevada | $46,420 | 56,900 |
| Indiana | $46,210 | 359,340 |
| Ohio | $46,200 | 462,260 |
| Illinois | $46,070 | 424,440 |
| Virginia | $45,860 | 160,020 |
| Idaho | $45,830 | 48,140 |
| New Jersey | $45,760 | 167,990 |
| Michigan | $45,470 | 445,160 |
| West Virginia | $45,390 | 35,530 |
| South Carolina | $45,020 | 188,920 |
| Utah | $44,980 | 104,560 |
| South Dakota | $44,730 | 31,980 |
| Oklahoma | $44,380 | 102,940 |
| Tennessee | $43,930 | 265,810 |
| Texas | $42,850 | 683,690 |
| North Carolina | $42,460 | 321,410 |
| Alabama | $41,440 | 215,220 |
| New Mexico | $41,390 | 28,940 |
| Georgia | $41,170 | 310,180 |
| Mississippi | $40,530 | 102,930 |
| Florida | $40,510 | 318,690 |
| Arkansas | $39,420 | 117,980 |
| Delaware | $38,440 | 19,190 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,990 | 730 |
| Guam | $29,890 | 1,690 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,630 | 60,200 |
Highest-paying metropolitan areas
Top 20 by median annual wage.
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Kokomo, IN | $73,540 | 6,110 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $65,600 | 8,220 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $65,270 | 4,330 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $62,560 | 23,230 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $60,590 | 11,360 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $59,090 | 800 |
| Wichita, KS | $57,760 | 34,180 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $57,490 | 1,100 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $56,780 | 6,260 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $56,220 | 13,510 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $55,690 | 6,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $55,650 | 84,750 |
| Greeley, CO | $55,220 | 9,090 |
| Casper, WY | $54,750 | 2,400 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $54,190 | 4,480 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $53,950 | 3,090 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $53,810 | 45,080 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $53,290 | 3,810 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $52,850 | 3,010 |
| Lawton, OK | $52,560 | 2,970 |
Occupations in this group
105 detailed occupations, largest first.
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 51-2090 · median $42,210 · 1,457,800 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 51-1011 · median $71,190 · 685,140 jobs
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 51-9061 · median $47,460 · 591,180 jobs
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 51-4121 · median $51,000 · 424,040 jobs
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 51-9111 · median $40,900 · 383,860 jobs
- Machinists 51-4041 · median $56,150 · 298,790 jobs
- Production Workers, All Other 51-9199 · median $38,820 · 277,060 jobs
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers 51-2028 · median $44,040 · 261,140 jobs
- Bakers 51-3011 · median $36,650 · 231,890 jobs
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers 51-6011 · median $33,800 · 195,360 jobs
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161 · median $49,970 · 176,950 jobs
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4031 · median $45,590 · 174,430 jobs
- Food Batchmakers 51-3092 · median $40,790 · 171,660 jobs
- Helpers--Production Workers 51-9198 · median $38,220 · 167,490 jobs
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9124 · median $47,590 · 159,500 jobs
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4072 · median $41,230 · 154,820 jobs
- Printing Press Operators 51-5112 · median $45,160 · 145,110 jobs
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers 51-3022 · median $37,700 · 141,090 jobs
- Butchers and Meat Cutters 51-3021 · median $38,960 · 140,040 jobs
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4081 · median $46,060 · 129,850 jobs
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders 51-9011 · median $57,090 · 127,410 jobs
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators 51-8031 · median $58,260 · 126,750 jobs
- Sewing Machine Operators 51-6031 · median $36,000 · 109,590 jobs
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9023 · median $47,680 · 100,840 jobs
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9196 · median $49,390 · 96,950 jobs
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters 51-7011 · median $46,020 · 79,540 jobs
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4033 · median $45,190 · 70,110 jobs
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers 51-3023 · median $39,790 · 67,500 jobs
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4021 · median $46,980 · 65,700 jobs
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing 51-7042 · median $40,440 · 63,350 jobs
- Food Processing Workers, All Other 51-3099 · median $38,420 · 57,920 jobs
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9041 · median $45,130 · 57,310 jobs
- Tool and Die Makers 51-4111 · median $63,180 · 55,130 jobs
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9012 · median $49,500 · 54,200 jobs
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters 51-2041 · median $49,900 · 53,380 jobs
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9032 · median $45,700 · 47,540 jobs
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood 51-7041 · median $39,950 · 43,140 jobs
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers 51-2031 · median $52,540 · 38,420 jobs
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers 51-5113 · median $39,820 · 36,470 jobs
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-4122 · median $47,060 · 36,290 jobs
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers 51-8093 · median $97,540 · 34,860 jobs
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic 51-9195 · median $45,690 · 34,750 jobs
- Dental Laboratory Technicians 51-9081 · median $48,310 · 33,920 jobs
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers 51-2011 · median $61,680 · 32,890 jobs
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians 51-9141 · median $51,180 · 32,150 jobs
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4193 · median $41,600 · 31,510 jobs
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators 51-8021 · median $75,190 · 30,780 jobs
- Power Plant Operators 51-8013 · median $99,670 · 30,720 jobs
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9021 · median $46,890 · 28,550 jobs
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers 51-9162 · median $65,670 · 28,230 jobs
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders 51-3093 · median $40,550 · 27,660 jobs
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials 51-6021 · median $33,880 · 26,830 jobs
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers 51-9071 · median $49,140 · 23,420 jobs
- Prepress Technicians and Workers 51-5111 · median $47,300 · 23,070 jobs
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4023 · median $48,630 · 22,350 jobs
- Upholsterers 51-6093 · median $46,190 · 20,990 jobs
- Tire Builders 51-9197 · median $55,580 · 20,970 jobs
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-6064 · median $37,660 · 20,600 jobs
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders 51-4051 · median $55,770 · 20,330 jobs
- Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other 51-4199 · median $42,750 · 20,270 jobs
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders 51-3091 · median $42,730 · 19,500 jobs
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4034 · median $48,620 · 18,970 jobs
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians 51-9083 · median $38,420 · 18,740 jobs
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators 51-2051 · median $45,760 · 18,520 jobs
- Chemical Plant and System Operators 51-8091 · median $73,540 · 17,840 jobs
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers 51-6052 · median $40,860 · 16,290 jobs
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders 51-9051 · median $47,010 · 16,160 jobs
- Plant and System Operators, All Other 51-8099 · median $61,710 · 15,950 jobs
- Gas Plant Operators 51-8092 · median $83,400 · 15,910 jobs
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers 51-6091 · median $44,980 · 14,900 jobs
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4191 · median $47,450 · 14,590 jobs
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-6063 · median $38,260 · 14,530 jobs
- Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other 51-6099 · median $37,010 · 14,450 jobs
- Furniture Finishers 51-7021 · median $42,530 · 14,230 jobs
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders 51-9192 · median $41,460 · 13,890 jobs
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4035 · median $48,310 · 13,810 jobs
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers 51-4071 · median $45,700 · 12,720 jobs
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers 51-2021 · median $47,260 · 12,170 jobs
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders 51-9191 · median $45,210 · 12,170 jobs
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand 51-9022 · median $41,690 · 11,850 jobs
- Medical Appliance Technicians 51-9082 · median $47,060 · 11,490 jobs
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers 51-8012 · median $107,240 · 9,180 jobs
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-6062 · median $37,940 · 8,960 jobs
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4022 · median $49,240 · 8,760 jobs
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers 51-9123 · median $40,860 · 8,470 jobs
- Etchers and Engravers 51-9194 · median $40,450 · 8,390 jobs
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers 51-6041 · median $35,950 · 7,640 jobs
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand 51-9031 · median $38,800 · 7,070 jobs
- Woodworkers, All Other 51-7099 · median $41,220 · 6,590 jobs
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders 51-9193 · median $40,160 · 6,590 jobs
- Pourers and Casters, Metal 51-4052 · median $48,940 · 5,830 jobs
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders 51-6061 · median $37,320 · 5,820 jobs
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners 51-4194 · median $48,970 · 5,730 jobs
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators 51-8011 · median $122,610 · 5,720 jobs
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic 51-4192 · median $61,870 · 5,610 jobs
- Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators 51-9151 · median $40,100 · 5,550 jobs
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4032 · median $46,630 · 5,310 jobs
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders 51-6042 · median $38,160 · 3,270 jobs
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic 51-4061 · median $62,700 · 3,230 jobs
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers 51-6092 · median $67,670 · 2,860 jobs
- Sewers, Hand 51-6051 · median $33,760 · 2,240 jobs
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic 51-4062 · median $54,540 · 1,570 jobs
- Model Makers, Wood 51-7031 · median $51,850 · 360 jobs
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters 51-2061 · median $40,790 · 230 jobs
- Patternmakers, Wood 51-7032 · median $52,520 · 180 jobs
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