Jobs Similar to Helpers--Production Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to helpers--production workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic, Machine Feeders and Offbearers and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders.
Helpers--Production Workers: $39,070 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $46,170 (+18%) · High school · Same group
- 2Machine Feeders and Offbearers
80% similar · $41,220 (+6%) · High school
- 3Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $46,460 (+19%) · High school · Same group
- 4Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $43,220 (+11%) · High school · Same group
- 5Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $48,540 (+24%) · High school · Same group
- 6Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $50,270 (+29%) · High school · Same group
- 7Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $48,040 (+23%) · High school · Same group
- 8Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $43,530 (+11%) · High school · Same group
- 9Pourers and Casters, Metal
79% similar · $51,810 (+33%) · High school
- 10Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $54,430 (+39%) · High school
- 11Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
78% similar · $46,350 (+19%) · High school
- 12Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
78% similar · $96,710 (+148%) · High school
- 13Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $39,530 (+1%) · High school
- 14Biofuels Processing Technicians
78% similar · $62,470 (broader group) · High school
- 15Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $46,330 (+19%) · High school
- 16Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $41,330 (+6%) · High school · Same group
- 17Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $46,570 (+19%) · High school · Same group
- 18Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
77% similar · $48,750 (+25%) · High school
- 19Recycling and Reclamation Workers
77% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school
- 20Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
77% similar · $34,890 (−11%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than helpers--production workers.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers78% similar · $96,710 (+148%)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders79% similar · $54,430 (+39%)
- Pourers and Casters, Metal79% similar · $51,810 (+33%)
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders79% similar · $50,270 (+29%)
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic77% similar · $48,750 (+25%)
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders79% similar · $48,540 (+24%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for helpers--production workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where helpers--production workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers (84)
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (81)
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers (80)
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (79)
- Packers and Packagers, Hand (79)
- Biofuels Processing Technicians (78)
- Conveyor Operators and Tenders (75)
- Dishwashers (75)
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals (75)
- Food Batchmakers (75)
Questions about jobs like helpers--production workers
What jobs are most similar to helpers--production workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (80% similar), Machine Feeders and Offbearers (80% similar), Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (79% similar), Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (79% similar) and Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (79% similar).
Which jobs like helpers--production workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +148%; usually a high school diploma), Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders ($54,430, +39%; usually a high school diploma) and Pourers and Casters ($51,810, +33%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with helpers--production workers ($39,070). Without more preparation than helpers--production workers usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Pourers and Casters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.