Production Careers

1. 1First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers

   $74,450 · Training or associate

2. 2Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

   $48,570 · High school

3. 3Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

   $53,750 · High school

4. 4Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

   $43,220 · High school

5. 5Machinists

   $58,750 · Training or associate

6. 6Bakers

   $37,160 · High school

7. 7Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

   $34,890 · High school

8. 8Food Batchmakers

   $42,290 · High school

9. 9Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

   $46,330 · High school

10. 10Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

    $50,690 · High school

11. 11Helpers--Production Workers

    $39,070 · High school

12. 12Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $48,250 · High school

13. 13Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $44,350 · High school

14. 14Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

    $38,300 · High school

15. 15Printing Press Operators

    $45,780 · High school

16. 16Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

    $58,040 · High school

17. 17Butchers and Meat Cutters

    $40,140 · High school

18. 18Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

    $60,020 · High school

19. 19Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $47,180 · High school

20. 20Sewing Machine Operators

    $36,670 · High school

21. 21Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $50,270 · High school

22. 22Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $48,990 · High school

23. 23Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

    $46,680 · High school

24. 24Slaughterers and Meat Packers

    $40,130 · High school

25. 25Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $46,550 · High school

26. 26Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

    $43,380 · High school

27. 27Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $47,720 · High school

28. 28Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $51,610 · High school

29. 29Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $45,760 · High school

30. 30Tool and Die Makers

    $64,050 · Training or associate

31. 31Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

    $51,330 · High school

32. 32Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $46,570 · High school

33. 33Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

    $42,770 · High school

34. 34Dental Laboratory Technicians

    $49,610 · High school

35. 35Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

    $65,380 · High school

36. 36Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

    $53,710 · High school

37. 37Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers

    $46,170 (broader group) · High school

38. 38Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

    $46,170 · High school

39. 39Potters, Manufacturing

    $46,170 (broader group) · Training or associate

40. 40Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

    $46,170 (broader group) · High school

41. 41Print Binding and Finishing Workers

    $42,290 · High school

42. 42Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

    $96,710 · High school

43. 43Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $43,960 · High school

44. 44Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $47,920 · High school

45. 45Semiconductor Processing Technicians

    $51,430 · High school

46. 46Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

    $41,590 · High school

47. 47Biomass Plant Technicians

    $102,040 (broader group) · High school

48. 48Hydroelectric Plant Technicians

    $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate

49. 49Power Plant Operators

    $102,040 · High school

50. 50Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

    $68,120 · High school

51. 51Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

    $78,620 · Training or associate

52. 52Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

    $35,060 · High school

53. 53Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $48,540 · High school

54. 54Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $50,140 · High school

55. 55Prepress Technicians and Workers

    $48,690 · Training or associate

56. 56Gem and Diamond Workers

    $52,540 (broader group) · Training or associate

57. 57Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

    $52,540 · Training or associate

58. 58Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $38,670 · High school

59. 59Tire Builders

    $57,390 · High school

60. 60Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

    $44,810 · High school

61. 61Upholsterers

    $46,340 · High school

62. 62Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

    $39,460 · High school

63. 63Gas Plant Operators

    $87,820 · High school

64. 64Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

    $54,430 · High school

65. 65Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $50,620 · High school

66. 66Chemical Plant and System Operators

    $78,120 · High school

67. 67Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators

    $46,880 · High school

68. 68Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

    $43,530 · High school

69. 69Furniture Finishers

    $44,540 · High school

70. 70Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

    $48,040 · High school

71. 71Biofuels Processing Technicians

    $62,470 (broader group) · High school

72. 72Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $48,750 · High school

73. 73Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers

    $41,640 · High school

74. 74Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $39,530 · High school

75. 75Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

    $46,350 · High school

76. 76Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers

    $48,220 · High school

77. 77Foundry Mold and Coremakers

    $48,110 · High school

78. 78Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $52,800 · High school

79. 79Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

    $46,460 · High school

80. 80Medical Appliance Technicians

    $48,030 · High school

81. 81Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

    $42,660 · High school

82. 82Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    $38,760 · High school

83. 83Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $49,030 · High school

84. 84Power Distributors and Dispatchers

    $106,730 · Training or associate

85. 85Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

    $41,600 · High school

86. 86Etchers and Engravers

    $43,310 · High school

87. 87Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

    $37,800 · High school

88. 88Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders

    $41,330 · High school

89. 89Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

    $38,020 · High school

90. 90Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

    $63,870 · High school

91. 91Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

    $50,060 · High school

92. 92Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders

    $38,180 · High school

93. 93Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

    $122,890 · Training or associate

94. 94Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

    $40,610 · High school

95. 95Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    $49,080 · High school

96. 96Pourers and Casters, Metal

    $51,810 · High school

97. 97Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

    $35,650 · High school

98. 98Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

    $62,750 · Training or associate

99. 99Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

    $63,340 · Training or associate

100. 100Sewers, Hand

     $36,480 · High school

101. 101Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

     $58,000 · Training or associate

102. 102Model Makers, Wood

     $56,550 · Training or associate

103. 103Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

     $62,620 · High school

104. 104Patternmakers, Wood

     $49,630 · Training or associate

How this list is made: All careers in this BLS occupation group that have full data, most common jobs first (BLS employment). Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025 national median.

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