Helpers--Production Workers earn a median of $39,070 per year ($18.78/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 8.2% through 2035, with about 20,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-9198
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Helpers--Production Worker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $39,070a year, or $18.78/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $31KTop 10% $53K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -8.2%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−8.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −8.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 20,900167,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025167.4K
- Projected 2035153.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 167.4K Projected 2035 153.6K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school34.6%
- High school31.9%
- Certificate19.9%
- Some college6%
- Professional degree7.6%
Highest education held by helpers--production workers Segment Value Less than high school 34.6% High school 31.9% Certificate 19.9% Some college 6% Professional degree 7.6%
Also advertised as: Assembly Line Worker, Control Room Helper, Laminator Helper, Machine Helper, Machine Operator Helper, Press Helper.
Pay
How much do Helpers--Production Workers make?
Every helpers--production worker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$39,070
Middle half earn $35,220 to $45,990
- 10th
- $31,140
- 25th
- $35,220
- 75th
- $45,990
- 90th
- $53,410
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $31,140 |
| 25th | $35,220 |
| Median | $39,070 |
| 75th | $45,990 |
| 90th | $53,410 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $39,070
- Median hourly wage
- $18.78/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $41,120
- People employed
- 165,700
Versus all US occupations
At $39,070, Helpers--Production Workers earn 23% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $11,910 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 19% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $53,410 or more while the bottom 10% earn $31,140, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 7% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
North Dakota posts the highest raw median ($46,170), but once local prices are taken into account Iowa leads at $51,913 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Helpers--Production Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1North Dakota | $46,170 | $51,900 | 220 |
| 2Montana | $46,110 | $48,719 | 220 |
| 3Iowa | $45,560 | $51,913 | 2,070 |
| 4Colorado | $45,550 | $44,201 | 1,350 |
| 5Washington | $45,450 | $42,471 | 3,620 |
| 6Oregon | $45,390 | $43,914 | 2,420 |
| 7Connecticut | $45,260 | $43,683 | 1,400 |
| 8Wisconsin | $45,100 | $47,930 | 2,900 |
| 9Nebraska | $45,020 | $49,965 | 700 |
| 10Minnesota | $44,720 | $45,345 | 2,570 |
Job outlook
Is Helpers--Production Worker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -8.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Helpers--Production Workers | −8.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Helpers--Production Workers to change -8.2% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 13,800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 20,900 openings are projected each year, 12.5% of the 167,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Helpers--Production Worker
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as helpers--production workers.
- Less than a High School Diploma34.6%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)31.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate19.9%
- First Professional Degree7.6%
- Some College Courses6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 34.6% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 31.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 19.9% |
| First Professional Degree | 7.6% |
| Some College Courses | 6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Helpers--Production Worker do?
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards.
- Lift raw materials, finished products, and packed items, manually or using hoists.
- Count finished products to determine if product orders are complete.
- Transfer finished products, raw materials, tools, or equipment between storage and work areas of plants and warehouses, by hand or using hand trucks or powered lift trucks.
- Pack and store materials and products.
- Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
- Help production workers by performing duties of lesser skill, such as supplying or holding materials or tools, or cleaning work areas and equipment.
- Mark or tag identification on parts.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening2.8
- Monitoring2.8
- Reading Comprehension2.6
- Speaking2.6
- Critical Thinking2.6
- Active Learning2.1
- Writing2.0
- Mathematics2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 2.8 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.6 |
| Speaking | 2.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
| Writing | 2.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring2.8
- Operation and Control2.8
- Quality Control Analysis2.6
- Social Perceptiveness2.5
- Coordination2.5
- Equipment Maintenance2.1
- Repairing2.1
- Time Management2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Operation and Control | 2.8 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.6 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.5 |
| Coordination | 2.5 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 2.1 |
| Repairing | 2.1 |
| Time Management | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Helpers--Production Worker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Helpers--Production Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.5
- Conventional4.4
- Enterprising1.9
- Social1.7
- Investigative1.3
- Artistic1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Helpers--Production Worker
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Worker
$39,630median a year
Most earn $29K to $56K
+5.3%High school - Construction and Extraction
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Brickmason, Blockmason, Stonemason, and Tile and Marble Setter
$47,550median a year
Most earn $36K to $70K
−11.7%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Painter, Paperhanger, Plasterer, and Stucco Mason
$40,470median a year
Most earn $31K to $52K
+1.5%No formal credential
More production careers
Median annual pay, with helpers--production workers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Helpers--Production Worker$39,070
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Helpers--Production Worker | $39,070 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Helpers--Production Worker appears on
Questions
Helpers--Production Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do Helpers--Production Workers make?
Helpers--Production Workers earn a median of $39,070 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 23% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.78/hr. The middle half earn between $35,220 and $45,990. The top 10% earn $53,410 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Helpers--Production Worker?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Helpers--Production Workers. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 34.6% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Helpers--Production Worker a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 8.2% over 2025–2035, a loss of 13,800 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 20,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Helpers--Production Worker do?
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. A core O*NET task: examine products to verify conformance to quality standards. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Desktop publishing software, Document management software.
Which states pay Helpers--Production Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Helpers--Production Workers are North Dakota ($46,170), Montana ($46,110), Iowa ($45,560) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Iowa moves to the top at $51,913.
What personality type suits a Helpers--Production Worker?
O*NET scores Helpers--Production Workers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.