CompSignal
BLS SOC 51 · 105 occupations · OEWS May 2025

Production Occupations

Machinists, welders, assemblers, fabricators, and production workers who manufacture goods.

Total Workforce
8.6M
workers in this field
Median Annual Pay
$47K
median across 105 roles
Avg Growth, 2024-34
-5.0%
BLS Projections 2024-34

Top Roles in Production

Top 25 by US employment
#OccupationWorkforce Median Pay Growth
1Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
SOC 51-2090
1.4M$45K-0.1%
2First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
SOC 51-1011
673K$74K+1.2%
3Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
SOC 51-9061
597K$49K+0.0%
4Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
SOC 51-4121
416K$54K+2.2%
5Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
SOC 51-9111
379K$43K+4.5%
6Machinists
SOC 51-4041
287K$59K+0.0%
7Production Workers, All Other
SOC 51-9199
252K$40K+0.5%
8Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
SOC 51-2028
247K$46K+4.6%
9Bakers
SOC 51-3011
236K$37K+5.6%
10Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
SOC 51-6011
198K$35K+5.4%
11Food Batchmakers
SOC 51-3092
175K$42K+6.9%
12Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4031
171K$46K-12.1%
13Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
SOC 51-9161
169K$51K-10.7%
14Helpers--Production Workers
SOC 51-9198
166K$39K-8.9%
15Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC 51-9124
159K$48K+0.7%
16Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4072
150K$44K-3.8%
17Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
SOC 51-3022
146K$38K+5.5%
18Printing Press Operators
SOC 51-5112
144K$46K-8.1%
19Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
SOC 51-9011
140K$58K+3.3%
20Butchers and Meat Cutters
SOC 51-3021
136K$40K+1.0%
21Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
SOC 51-8031
128K$60K-6.5%
22Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4081
125K$47K-0.5%
23Sewing Machine Operators
SOC 51-6031
105K$37K-10.8%
24Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC 51-9196
96K$50K-6.3%
25Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC 51-9023
95K$49K-6.8%

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