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.
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What Tasks Do Helpers–Production Workers Perform?
Typical responsibilities of helpers–production workers cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful helpers–production workers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- 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?
There are roughly 151,414 helpers–production workers working in the United States today. Employment is projected 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 |
Compensation varies 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 |
Where Helpers–Production Workers Earn the Most
Compensation for helpers–production workers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Top Industries Employing Helpers–Production Workers
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:
Tech Stack
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for helpers–production workers reflects 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
Education and Training
Entry-level helpers–production workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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)
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from 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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