IncomeLookup

Production Salaries

The BLS classifies 105 detailed occupations in this group, all with a published median. Across the whole group the BLS reports a median of $46,990 a year and about 8.57 million jobs.

Occupations105
Group median$46,990
Total employment8.57 million
Highest median$122,890

The spread inside the group runs from $34,890 for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers to $122,890 for Nuclear Power Reactor Operators. Ranking occupations by median is the fastest way to see which roles the market pays most within this field.

All production occupations by median pay

Medians are annual, from the BLS May 2025 national estimates. Employment shows the number of jobs in each occupation.

Production occupations by median annual pay, May 2025
OccupationMedian payEmployment
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators$122,8905,150
Power Distributors and Dispatchers$106,7308,520
Power Plant Operators$102,04029,320
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$96,71033,160
Gas Plant Operators$87,82018,030
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$78,62028,250
Chemical Plant and System Operators$78,12016,610
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450673,430
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$68,12028,500
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$65,38034,020
Tool and Die Makers$64,05056,930
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$63,8705,970
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic$63,3402,610
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers$62,7502,950
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters$62,620250
Plant and System Operators, All Other$62,47014,080
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,020128,490
Machinists$58,750287,050
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$58,040139,630
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic$58,0001,470
Tire Builders$57,39020,770
Model Makers, Wood$56,550280
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$54,43016,780
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750416,210
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$53,71034,000
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,80012,460
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$52,54022,440
Pourers and Casters, Metal$51,8104,560
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,61060,100
Semiconductor Processing Technicians$51,43031,460
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$51,33052,360
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,690169,450
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,62016,710
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,27096,130
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,14025,250
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,0605,600
Patternmakers, Wood$49,630220
Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,61034,410
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,0804,680
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,0308,930
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,99094,920
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,75014,000
Prepress Technicians and Workers$48,69023,840
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570597,370
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,54026,000
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,250158,740
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,22012,840
Foundry Mold and Coremakers$48,11012,790
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$48,04014,280
Medical Appliance Technicians$48,03011,280
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,92031,600
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,72060,840
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180124,590
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators$46,88016,170
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,68077,170
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,57044,980
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,55067,000
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders$46,46011,500
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$46,35012,850
Upholsterers$46,34020,140
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,330171,200
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$46,17033,190
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$45,95015,900
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850246,970
Printing Press Operators$45,780144,260
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,76058,770
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$44,81020,370
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,6501,405,030
Furniture Finishers$44,54014,480
Woodworkers, All Other$44,5305,490
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,350150,470
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,96032,410
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$43,53014,760
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,38061,420
Etchers and Engravers$43,3107,750
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220379,060
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$42,77040,850
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$42,66010,510
Food Batchmakers$42,290174,520
Print Binding and Finishing Workers$42,29033,180
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers$41,64013,920
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers$41,6007,940
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$41,59031,250
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders$41,3306,900
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators$40,6104,800
Butchers and Meat Cutters$40,140136,430
Slaughterers and Meat Packers$40,13069,950
Production Workers, All Other$40,110251,700
Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,68065,000
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$39,53013,030
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians$39,46018,660
Helpers--Production Workers$39,070165,700
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,7609,000
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,67022,020
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$38,300145,700
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$38,1805,310
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$38,0206,060
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers$37,8007,450
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$37,28013,530
Bakers$37,160236,200
Sewing Machine Operators$36,670104,880
Sewers, Hand$36,4802,190
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders$35,6503,280
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$35,06026,120
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,890198,040

How to read this table

A high median can reflect scarce skills, union coverage, licensing requirements or simply a small, senior workforce. A low median can reflect part-time schedules or a large entry-level tier. Neither is a verdict on the work itself.

Employment matters as much as pay when comparing occupations: a role with 500,000 jobs and a $46,990 median offers far more openings than a niche role paying twice as much.

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