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Helpers–Production Workers: Career Overview
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
What Tasks Do Helpers–Production Workers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of helpers–production workers span:
- Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
- Operate machinery used in the production process, or assist machine operators.
- Place products in equipment or on work surfaces for further processing, inspecting, or wrapping.
- Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards.
- Start machines or equipment to begin production processes.
- Observe equipment operations so that malfunctions can be detected, and notify operators of any malfunctions.
- Remove products, machine attachments, or waste material from machines.
- Lift raw materials, finished products, and packed items, manually or using hoists.
Skills and Knowledge
Top helpers–production workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Helpers–Production Workers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Abrasive Mixer Helper
- Acid Filler
- Air and Water Filler
- Aircraft Machinist Helper
- Alodize Machine Helper
- Anglesmith Helper
- Animal Stunner
- Annealer Helper
How Many Helpers–Production Workers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 151,414 helpers–production workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +14.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Helpers–Production Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $56,174 |
| Hourly median | $27.01 |
| 10th percentile | $40,379 |
| 25th percentile | $48,276 |
| 75th percentile | $64,072 |
| 90th percentile | $71,969 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Helpers–Production Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Vermont | $46,480 |
| Iowa | $46,000 |
| North Dakota | $44,210 |
| Washington | $43,720 |
| Wisconsin | $43,690 |
| California | $43,670 |
| Alaska | $43,010 |
| Colorado | $43,010 |
| Maryland | $42,920 |
| Hawaii | $42,720 |
| Minnesota | $42,240 |
| Montana | $42,100 |
| Maine | $42,070 |
| New York | $41,490 |
| Oregon | $41,410 |
| West Virginia | $40,470 |
| Illinois | $40,180 |
| Michigan | $40,040 |
| Wyoming | $40,040 |
| Nevada | $39,890 |
| New Jersey | $39,530 |
| Missouri | $39,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,350 |
| Massachusetts | $39,250 |
| Ohio | $39,190 |
| Nebraska | $39,170 |
| Kentucky | $39,060 |
| Connecticut | $38,680 |
| Idaho | $38,430 |
| New Hampshire | $38,380 |
| Kansas | $38,220 |
| Indiana | $38,190 |
| North Carolina | $37,540 |
| Arizona | $37,440 |
| Tennessee | $37,340 |
| Delaware | $37,300 |
| Louisiana | $36,910 |
| Florida | $36,660 |
| Rhode Island | $36,490 |
| Virginia | $36,380 |
| Texas | $36,300 |
| South Carolina | $36,120 |
| Utah | $35,940 |
| Georgia | $35,940 |
| Arkansas | $35,580 |
| New Mexico | $35,130 |
| Oklahoma | $35,130 |
| Alabama | $34,520 |
| Mississippi | $31,900 |
| Guam | $23,550 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,120 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for helpers–production workers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $43,332 | 15.4% | 0.97 |
| Plains States | $41,042 | 7.8% | 1.28 |
| Great Lakes | $40,454 | 11.7% | 0.89 |
| Middle Atlantic | $40,293 | 9.9% | 0.76 |
| New England | $39,542 | 3.0% | 0.64 |
| Rocky Mountains | $39,169 | 2.4% | 0.77 |
| Southwest | $36,226 | 18.6% | 1.65 |
| Southeast | $36,048 | 30.0% | 2.01 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield, MA | MA | $53,250 | 80 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | ID | $53,010 | 100 |
| Reading, PA | PA | $52,780 | 330 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $52,460 | 210 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | MO | $50,660 | 160 |
| Traverse City, MI | MI | $49,480 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | IA | $49,000 | 130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $48,930 | 400 |
Industry Breakdown
Most helpers–production workers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 119,580 | $38,690 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 17,940 | $34,970 |
| Wholesale Trade | 6,070 | $35,380 |
| Construction | 5,890 | $38,810 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 5,310 | $40,860 |
| Retail Trade | 2,910 | $37,920 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,180 | $37,030 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,800 | $46,500 |
Below are examples of industries where helpers–production workers work:
Software Helpers–Production Workers Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of helpers–production workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Time Pressure
Getting Started in This Career
Typical helpers–production workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Helpers–Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Carpenters (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Electricians (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons (Primary-Long)
- Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Extraction Workers (Primary-Short)
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery (Primary-Long)
- Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (Primary-Short)
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9198.00 (Helpers–Production Workers).
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