Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023
51-0000 Production Occupations (Major Group)
Production Occupations comprises the following occupations:
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers;
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers;
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers;
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers;
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers;
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters;
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators;
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters;
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators;
Bakers;
Slaughterers and Meat Packers;
Butchers and Meat Cutters;
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers;
Food Processing Workers, All Other;
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders;
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders;
Food Batchmakers;
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Machinists;
Pourers and Casters, Metal;
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders;
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic;
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic;
Foundry Mold and Coremakers;
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Tool and Die Makers;
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers;
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other;
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic;
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners;
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic;
Prepress Technicians and Workers;
Print Binding and Finishing Workers;
Printing Press Operators;
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers;
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials;
Sewing Machine Operators;
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders;
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers;
Sewers, Hand;
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers;
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders;
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other;
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers;
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers;
Upholsterers;
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters;
Furniture Finishers;
Patternmakers, Wood;
Model Makers, Wood;
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood;
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing;
Woodworkers, All Other;
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators;
Power Distributors and Dispatchers;
Power Plant Operators;
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators;
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators;
Plant and System Operators, All Other;
Gas Plant Operators;
Chemical Plant and System Operators;
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers;
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders;
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand;
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand;
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders;
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers;
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers;
Medical Appliance Technicians;
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians;
Dental Laboratory Technicians;
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders;
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers;
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Semiconductor Processing Technicians;
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators;
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers;
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators;
Production Workers, All Other;
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders;
Etchers and Engravers;
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders;
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders;
Tire Builders;
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic;
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders;
Helpers--Production Workers
National estimates for Production Occupations
Industry profile for Production Occupations
Geographic profile for Production Occupations
National estimates for Production Occupations:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Production Occupations:
| Employment (1) |
Employment
RSE (3) |
Mean hourly
wage |
Mean annual
wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
| 8,770,170 |
0.1 % |
$ 22.90 |
$ 47,620 |
0.2 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Production Occupations:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50%
(Median) |
75% |
90% |
| Hourly Wage |
$ 14.69 |
$ 17.30 |
$ 20.98 |
$ 26.39 |
$ 33.83 |
| Annual Wage (2) |
$ 30,550 |
$ 35,980 |
$ 43,630 |
$ 54,880 |
$ 70,370 |
Industry profile for Production Occupations:
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Production Occupations are provided.
For a list of all industries with employment in Production Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Production Occupations:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Employment Services |
573,050 |
15.28 |
$ 17.44 |
$ 36,280 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) |
376,600 |
48.45 |
$ 23.75 |
$ 49,390 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing |
357,010 |
58.94 |
$ 21.06 |
$ 43,790 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing |
351,330 |
63.07 |
$ 22.15 |
$ 46,060 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing |
324,560 |
59.77 |
$ 19.34 |
$ 40,230 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Production Occupations:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Footwear Manufacturing |
8,690 |
77.44 |
$ 17.90 |
$ 37,240 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing |
200,490 |
70.00 |
$ 27.93 |
$ 58,090 |
| Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing |
7,490 |
68.20 |
$ 17.62 |
$ 36,640 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills |
15,130 |
67.83 |
$ 18.06 |
$ 37,570 |
| Foundries |
71,830 |
66.92 |
$ 23.19 |
$ 48,220 |
Top paying industries for Production Occupations:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries |
2,330 |
0.58 |
$ 50.83 |
$ 105,730 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution |
44,310 |
11.25 |
$ 50.21 |
$ 104,440 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation |
390 |
0.08 |
$ 49.08 |
$ 102,080 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
3,360 |
28.27 |
$ 47.27 |
$ 98,320 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
12,880 |
11.45 |
$ 46.08 |
$ 95,850 |
Geographic profile for Production Occupations:
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Production Occupations are provided.
For a list of all areas with employment in Production Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Production Occupations:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| California |
784,980 |
43.74 |
0.76 |
$ 24.69 |
$ 51,340 |
| Texas |
681,130 |
50.24 |
0.87 |
$ 22.35 |
$ 46,480 |
| Ohio |
465,360 |
85.09 |
1.47 |
$ 22.24 |
$ 46,250 |
| Michigan |
448,230 |
103.09 |
1.78 |
$ 22.57 |
$ 46,940 |
| Illinois |
423,920 |
70.52 |
1.22 |
$ 22.83 |
$ 47,480 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Production Occupations:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Indiana |
363,050 |
115.01 |
1.99 |
$ 22.94 |
$ 47,720 |
| Wisconsin |
316,600 |
109.70 |
1.90 |
$ 23.07 |
$ 47,990 |
| Alabama |
214,170 |
104.32 |
1.81 |
$ 20.98 |
$ 43,630 |
| Michigan |
448,230 |
103.09 |
1.78 |
$ 22.57 |
$ 46,940 |
| Kentucky |
188,160 |
95.85 |
1.66 |
$ 22.43 |
$ 46,650 |
Top paying states for Production Occupations:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| District of Columbia |
4,370 |
6.22 |
0.11 |
$ 33.96 |
$ 70,640 |
| Wyoming |
13,320 |
48.65 |
0.84 |
$ 30.32 |
$ 63,060 |
| Alaska |
9,670 |
31.02 |
0.54 |
$ 28.65 |
$ 59,600 |
| Washington |
161,720 |
46.27 |
0.80 |
$ 27.06 |
$ 56,270 |
| Louisiana |
100,400 |
54.22 |
0.94 |
$ 26.90 |
$ 55,940 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Production Occupations:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
293,870 |
65.21 |
1.13 |
$ 23.23 |
$ 48,320 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA |
289,790 |
46.85 |
0.81 |
$ 23.78 |
$ 49,460 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
252,810 |
26.63 |
0.46 |
$ 24.26 |
$ 50,460 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX |
201,690 |
50.85 |
0.88 |
$ 21.83 |
$ 45,410 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI |
186,670 |
98.24 |
1.70 |
$ 23.73 |
$ 49,350 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX |
170,080 |
53.49 |
0.93 |
$ 24.63 |
$ 51,220 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
135,820 |
48.20 |
0.83 |
$ 21.85 |
$ 45,440 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI |
121,950 |
63.81 |
1.10 |
$ 24.54 |
$ 51,050 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD |
112,530 |
39.77 |
0.69 |
$ 24.62 |
$ 51,220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
101,830 |
36.87 |
0.64 |
$ 25.62 |
$ 53,290 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Production Occupations:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN |
47,510 |
347.35 |
6.01 |
$ 23.23 |
$ 48,320 |
| Dalton, GA |
15,220 |
232.37 |
4.02 |
$ 18.58 |
$ 38,650 |
| Sheboygan, WI |
13,600 |
227.73 |
3.94 |
$ 23.40 |
$ 48,670 |
| Columbus, IN |
10,580 |
208.75 |
3.61 |
$ 22.83 |
$ 47,490 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC |
29,690 |
192.05 |
3.33 |
$ 21.04 |
$ 43,760 |
| Kokomo, IN |
6,420 |
184.66 |
3.20 |
$ 29.64 |
$ 61,640 |
| Morristown, TN |
8,210 |
174.21 |
3.02 |
$ 19.48 |
$ 40,520 |
| Spartanburg, SC |
27,440 |
171.79 |
2.97 |
$ 23.97 |
$ 49,850 |
| Gainesville, GA |
16,650 |
168.20 |
2.91 |
$ 20.30 |
$ 42,220 |
| Wausau, WI |
11,700 |
168.00 |
2.91 |
$ 22.73 |
$ 47,280 |
United States Department of Labor
