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Helpers–Production Workers in Indiana

Thinking about a career as a Helpers–Production Workers in Indiana? Below are the key facts. Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment. Apprentice workers are classified in the appropriate production occupations (51-0000).

What do Helpers–Production Workers Make in Indiana?

For helpers–production workers working in Indiana, the median annual wage is $38,190 per year (or about $18.36/hour).Pay can range from $28,610 at the 10th percentile to $48,060 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$28,610	$13.76
25th percentile	$34,780	$16.72
Median (50th)	$38,190	$18.36
75th percentile	$44,360	$21.33
90th percentile	$48,060	$23.11

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Indiana relative to the national average — is 0.80, suggesting fewer helpers–production workers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, helpers–production workers earn a median of $56,174 per year ($27.01/hour), lower than the Indiana median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 151,414 helpers–production workers across the United States. In Indiana alone, about 2,780 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 2,250 helpers–production workers.

Top Indiana Metros for Helpers–Production Workers

The metro areas below employ the most helpers–production workers in Indiana.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	720	$37,330
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	270	$37,560
Columbus, IN	130	$40,920
Evansville, IN	110	$34,300
Fort Wayne, IN	80	$38,610
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	70	$37,170
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	40	$24,710
Muncie, IN	40	$28,610

Top States for Helpers–Production Workers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most helpers–production workers work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	26,660
California	18,450
Alabama	8,170
Pennsylvania	6,660
Arkansas	6,280
Florida	5,880
Illinois	5,380
North Carolina	5,370
Tennessee	5,290
Missouri	5,120
New York	4,590
Wisconsin	4,300
Georgia	4,300
Mississippi	3,970
Washington	3,900
Michigan	3,820
New Jersey	3,720
Ohio	3,600
Virginia	3,450
Louisiana	3,090

Highest-Paying States for Helpers–Production Workers

The highest-paying states for helpers–production workers.

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

Skills

Key helpers–production workers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for helpers–production workers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Helpers–Production Workers typically:

• 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.
• 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.
• Help production workers by performing duties of lesser skill, such as supplying or holding materials or tools, or cleaning work areas and equipment.
• Count finished products to determine if product orders are complete.

Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Getting Information
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Processing Information
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign

Related Careers

Careers similar to helpers–production workers include:

• Helpers–Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
• Helpers–Carpenters
• Helpers–Electricians
• Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
• Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
• Helpers–Extraction Workers

Also Known As

Abrasive Mixer Helper, Acid Filler, Air and Water Filler, Aircraft Machinist Helper, Alodize Machine Helper, Anglesmith Helper, Animal Stunner, Annealer Helper, Apron Cleaner, Asbestos Brake Lining Finisher Helper, Assembly Inspector Helper, Auto Painter Helper, Automatic Pad Making Machine Operator Helper, Automatic Pad-Making Machine Operator Helper, Automotive Painter Helper.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9198.00