Helpers--Production Workers
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Also called: Abrasive Mixer Helper, Aircraft Machinist Helper, Annealer Helper, Assembly Inspector Helper, Assembly Line Worker, Automatic Pad Making Machine Operator Helper
Median pay
$39,070
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$31,140 – $53,410
People employed
165,700
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 3.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Helpers--Production Workers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (49 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What helpers--production workers do
- 01Lift raw materials, finished products, and packed items, manually or using hoists.
- 02Mark or tag identification on parts.
- 03Observe equipment operations so that malfunctions can be detected, and notify operators of any malfunctions.
- 04Count finished products to determine if product orders are complete.
- 05Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards.
- 06Operate machinery used in the production process, or assist machine operators.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from helpers--production workers
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers90% · +6%
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers81% · −11%
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic80% · +19%
- Helpers--Extraction Workers80% · +22%
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand79% · +3%
Change into helpers--production workers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers84% · $40,240
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers81% · $34,890
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers80% · $41,220
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand79% · $40,240
- Packers and Packagers, Hand79% · $36,280