51 Series · SOC 51-9198
Helpers--Production Workers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $39,070
- Median / year
- $53,410
- Top 10% earn
- -8.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 165,700
- US workers
Helpers--Production Workers earn a median of $39,070 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $39,070, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $31,140 (10th percentile) to $53,410 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 165,700 US workers. North Dakota pays the most ($46,170), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Helpers--Production Workers earn a median of $39,070, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 10% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #92 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 8.9% by 2033.
- $39,070
- Median annual wage
- Top 90%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #92 of 105
- in Production
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: North Dakota at $46,170. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Helpers--Production Workers (SOC 51-9198) pays a national median of $39,070 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $31,140 at the 10th percentile to $53,410 at the 90th, with a mean of $41,120 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 165,700 Americans work in this occupation across 51 reporting states and 433 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -8.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 23,600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. North Dakota pays the highest state median at $46,170, which is +18% above the national figure. The top metro is Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area at $60,620 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 165,700 jobs Median $39,070/yr
Median Salary
$39,070
per year
Median Hourly
$18.78/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$41,120
average
Employment
165,700
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Helpers--Production Workers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$39,070 Bottom 10% higher than 10% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Helpers--Production Workers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 22 51-series occupations with growth data, Helpers--Production Workers sits on the slower-growing side at -8.9% growth and $39,070 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-8.9%
Declining
Annual Openings
23,600
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Helpers--Production Workers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 2.9
Monitoring 2.9
Speaking 2.8
Critical Thinking 2.8
Operations Monitoring 2.8
Reading Comprehension 2.6
Social Perceptiveness 2.6
Coordination 2.6
Operation and Control 2.6
Quality Control Analysis 2.6
Knowledge Areas
Mechanical 3.0
Production and Processing 2.7
Mathematics 2.7
English Language 2.7
Public Safety and Security 2.6
Education and Training 2.4
Administration and Management 2.1
Computers and Electronics 2.0
Transportation 2.0
Customer and Personal Service 1.9
Key Tasks
- ▸ Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
- ▸ Count finished products to determine if product orders are complete.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Measure amounts of products, lengths of extruded articles, or weights of filled containers to ensure conformance to specifications.
- ▸ Separate products according to weight, grade, size, or composition of materials used to produce them.
- ▸ Turn valves to regulate flow of liquids or air, to reverse machines, to start pumps, or to regulate equipment.
- ▸ Mark or tag identification on parts.
- ▸ Start machines or equipment to begin production processes.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$31,140
25th Percentile
$35,220
Median
$39,070
75th Percentile
$45,990
90th Percentile
$53,410
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 51 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $46,170 | +18% above national |
| 2 | Montana | $46,110 | +18% above national |
| 3 | Iowa | $45,560 | +17% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $45,550 | +17% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $45,450 | +16% above national |
| 6 | Oregon | $45,390 | +16% above national |
| 7 | Connecticut | $45,260 | +16% above national |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $45,100 | +15% above national |
| 9 | Nebraska | $45,020 | +15% above national |
| 10 | Minnesota | $44,720 | +14% above national |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $44,720 | +14% above national |
| 12 | Maryland | $44,680 | +14% above national |
| 13 | Hawaii | $44,380 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Maine | $44,120 | +13% above national |
| 15 | California | $43,970 | +13% above national |
| 16 | New York | $43,540 | +11% above national |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $42,740 | +9% above national |
| 18 | Alaska | $42,530 | +9% above national |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $42,280 | +8% above national |
| 20 | Indiana | $42,210 | +8% above national |
| 21 | Kentucky | $42,130 | +8% above national |
| 22 | Michigan | $41,660 | +7% above national |
| 23 | Illinois | $41,480 | +6% above national |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $41,060 | +5% above national |
| 25 | Missouri | $40,580 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Wyoming | $40,200 | +3% above national |
| 27 | Nevada | $39,730 | +2% above national |
| 28 | Arizona | $39,680 | +2% above national |
| 29 | Ohio | $39,600 | +1% above national |
| 30 | Vermont | $39,540 | +1% above national |
| 31 | North Carolina | $39,410 | +1% above national |
| 32 | New Jersey | $39,290 | +1% above national |
| 33 | West Virginia | $39,190 | same as national |
| 34 | Delaware | $38,380 | 2% below national |
| 35 | Tennessee | $38,330 | 2% below national |
| 36 | Idaho | $38,240 | 2% below national |
| 37 | Florida | $37,950 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Virginia | $37,740 | 3% below national |
| 39 | Kansas | $37,320 | 4% below national |
| 40 | Utah | $37,110 | 5% below national |
| 41 | South Carolina | $36,610 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Texas | $36,610 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Louisiana | $36,400 | 7% below national |
| 44 | Georgia | $36,280 | 7% below national |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $36,240 | 7% below national |
| 46 | Alabama | $35,910 | 8% below national |
| 47 | New Mexico | $35,650 | 9% below national |
| 48 | Arkansas | $35,540 | 9% below national |
| 49 | Mississippi | $33,880 | 13% below national |
| 50 | Guam | $29,520 | 24% below national |
| 51 | Puerto Rico | $22,780 | 42% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 433 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $60,620 | +55% above national |
| 2 | Reading, PA | $54,550 | +40% above national |
| 3 | Albany, OR | $52,290 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $52,050 | +33% above national |
| 5 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $50,480 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Fargo, ND-MN | $50,190 | +28% above national |
| 7 | Fond du Lac, WI | $50,110 | +28% above national |
| 8 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,920 | +28% above national |
| 9 | New Haven, CT | $49,900 | +28% above national |
| 10 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $49,680 | +27% above national |
| 11 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $49,600 | +27% above national |
| 12 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,310 | +26% above national |
| 13 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $49,020 | +25% above national |
| 14 | Pueblo, CO | $48,970 | +25% above national |
| 15 | Wausau, WI | $48,790 | +25% above national |
| 16 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $48,690 | +25% above national |
| 17 | Green Bay, WI | $48,670 | +25% above national |
| 18 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $48,520 | +24% above national |
| 19 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $48,470 | +24% above national |
| 20 | Napa, CA | $48,420 | +24% above national |
| 21 | Amarillo, TX | $48,370 | +24% above national |
| 22 | Joplin, MO-KS | $47,850 | +22% above national |
| 23 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $47,830 | +22% above national |
| 24 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $47,800 | +22% above national |
| 25 | Duluth, MN-WI | $47,760 | +22% above national |
| 26 | Sheboygan, WI | $47,720 | +22% above national |
| 27 | Ogden, UT | $47,440 | +21% above national |
| 28 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,320 | +21% above national |
| 29 | Peoria, IL | $47,250 | +21% above national |
| 30 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $47,240 | +21% above national |
| 31 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $47,210 | +21% above national |
| 32 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,120 | +21% above national |
| 33 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $47,060 | +20% above national |
| 34 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $46,980 | +20% above national |
| 35 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,770 | +20% above national |
| 36 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $46,710 | +20% above national |
| 37 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $46,630 | +19% above national |
| 38 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,610 | +19% above national |
| 39 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $46,460 | +19% above national |
| 40 | Lincoln, NE | $46,430 | +19% above national |
| 41 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $46,410 | +19% above national |
| 42 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $46,380 | +19% above national |
| 43 | Redding, CA | $46,340 | +19% above national |
| 44 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,290 | +18% above national |
| 45 | Billings, MT | $46,260 | +18% above national |
| 46 | Rome, GA | $46,240 | +18% above national |
| 47 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $46,220 | +18% above national |
| 48 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $46,210 | +18% above national |
| 49 | Johnstown, PA | $46,180 | +18% above national |
| 50 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $46,170 | +18% above national |
| 51 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,050 | +18% above national |
| 52 | Salinas, CA | $46,030 | +18% above national |
| 53 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $45,970 | +18% above national |
| 54 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $45,930 | +18% above national |
| 55 | York-Hanover, PA | $45,870 | +17% above national |
| 56 | Pittsfield, MA | $45,820 | +17% above national |
| 57 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,800 | +17% above national |
| 58 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,800 | +17% above national |
| 59 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | +17% above national |
| 60 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $45,730 | +17% above national |
| 61 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,670 | +17% above national |
| 62 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,620 | +17% above national |
| 63 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,610 | +17% above national |
| 64 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $45,550 | +17% above national |
| 65 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,470 | +16% above national |
| 66 | Madison, WI | $45,410 | +16% above national |
| 67 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $45,330 | +16% above national |
| 68 | Salem, OR | $45,310 | +16% above national |
| 69 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $45,290 | +16% above national |
| 70 | Asheville, NC | $45,280 | +16% above national |
| 71 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $45,200 | +16% above national |
| 72 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $45,170 | +16% above national |
| 73 | Greeley, CO | $45,140 | +16% above national |
| 74 | Bellingham, WA | $45,080 | +15% above national |
| 75 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $45,070 | +15% above national |
| 76 | Decatur, IL | $44,960 | +15% above national |
| 77 | Vallejo, CA | $44,940 | +15% above national |
| 78 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,910 | +15% above national |
| 79 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $44,870 | +15% above national |
| 80 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $44,770 | +15% above national |
| 81 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $44,650 | +14% above national |
| 82 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $44,610 | +14% above national |
| 83 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $44,530 | +14% above national |
| 84 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $44,450 | +14% above national |
| 85 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $44,350 | +14% above national |
| 86 | Valdosta, GA | $44,350 | +14% above national |
| 87 | Walla Walla, WA | $44,200 | +13% above national |
| 88 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $44,190 | +13% above national |
| 89 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $44,170 | +13% above national |
| 90 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,020 | +13% above national |
| 91 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $43,980 | +13% above national |
| 92 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $43,950 | +12% above national |
| 93 | Springfield, MA | $43,940 | +12% above national |
| 94 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $43,870 | +12% above national |
| 95 | Rochester, NY | $43,820 | +12% above national |
| 96 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $43,720 | +12% above national |
| 97 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $43,710 | +12% above national |
| 98 | Worcester, MA | $43,680 | +12% above national |
| 99 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $43,480 | +11% above national |
| 100 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $43,450 | +11% above national |
| 101 | Terre Haute, IN | $43,430 | +11% above national |
| 102 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $43,430 | +11% above national |
| 103 | Lawrence, KS | $43,420 | +11% above national |
| 104 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $43,410 | +11% above national |
| 105 | Syracuse, NY | $43,370 | +11% above national |
| 106 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $43,340 | +11% above national |
| 107 | Fort Wayne, IN | $43,300 | +11% above national |
| 108 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $43,240 | +11% above national |
| 109 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,210 | +11% above national |
| 110 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $43,210 | +11% above national |
| 111 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $43,200 | +11% above national |
| 112 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $43,160 | +10% above national |
| 113 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $43,150 | +10% above national |
| 114 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $43,140 | +10% above national |
| 115 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $43,120 | +10% above national |
| 116 | Winston-Salem, NC | $43,000 | +10% above national |
| 117 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $42,980 | +10% above national |
| 118 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $42,980 | +10% above national |
| 119 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,950 | +10% above national |
| 120 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $42,940 | +10% above national |
| 121 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $42,850 | +10% above national |
| 122 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $42,830 | +10% above national |
| 123 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $42,800 | +10% above national |
| 124 | Medford, OR | $42,770 | +9% above national |
| 125 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $42,640 | +9% above national |
| 126 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $42,620 | +9% above national |
| 127 | St. Cloud, MN | $42,620 | +9% above national |
| 128 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $42,620 | +9% above national |
| 129 | Anchorage, AK | $42,530 | +9% above national |
| 130 | Boulder, CO | $42,520 | +9% above national |
| 131 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $42,490 | +9% above national |
| 132 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $42,490 | +9% above national |
| 133 | Winchester, VA-WV | $42,420 | +9% above national |
| 134 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $42,390 | +8% above national |
| 135 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,360 | +8% above national |
| 136 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $42,320 | +8% above national |
| 137 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $42,240 | +8% above national |
| 138 | Eau Claire, WI | $42,220 | +8% above national |
| 139 | Traverse City, MI | $42,220 | +8% above national |
| 140 | Columbus, IN | $42,210 | +8% above national |
| 141 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $42,210 | +8% above national |
| 142 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $42,090 | +8% above national |
| 143 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $41,890 | +7% above national |
| 144 | Wichita, KS | $41,840 | +7% above national |
| 145 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $41,820 | +7% above national |
| 146 | Appleton, WI | $41,740 | +7% above national |
| 147 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $41,740 | +7% above national |
| 148 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $41,740 | +7% above national |
| 149 | Cleveland, OH | $41,730 | +7% above national |
| 150 | Bangor, ME | $41,720 | +7% above national |
| 151 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $41,720 | +7% above national |
| 152 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $41,680 | +7% above national |
| 153 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $41,590 | +6% above national |
| 154 | Visalia, CA | $41,540 | +6% above national |
| 155 | Mankato, MN | $41,530 | +6% above national |
| 156 | Flint, MI | $41,500 | +6% above national |
| 157 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $41,480 | +6% above national |
| 158 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $41,450 | +6% above national |
| 159 | Jackson, TN | $41,340 | +6% above national |
| 160 | Knoxville, TN | $41,330 | +6% above national |
| 161 | Bend, OR | $41,300 | +6% above national |
| 162 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $41,260 | +6% above national |
| 163 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $41,250 | +6% above national |
| 164 | Pittsburgh, PA | $41,240 | +6% above national |
| 165 | Rockford, IL | $41,240 | +6% above national |
| 166 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $41,230 | +6% above national |
| 167 | Grand Junction, CO | $41,210 | +5% above national |
| 168 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $41,160 | +5% above national |
| 169 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $41,090 | +5% above national |
| 170 | Savannah, GA | $41,080 | +5% above national |
| 171 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $41,060 | +5% above national |
| 172 | Springfield, MO | $41,040 | +5% above national |
| 173 | Jacksonville, FL | $40,980 | +5% above national |
| 174 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $40,970 | +5% above national |
| 175 | Erie, PA | $40,920 | +5% above national |
| 176 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $40,910 | +5% above national |
| 177 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $40,870 | +5% above national |
| 178 | Hattiesburg, MS | $40,850 | +5% above national |
| 179 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $40,840 | +5% above national |
| 180 | Yakima, WA | $40,830 | +5% above national |
| 181 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $40,800 | +4% above national |
| 182 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $40,800 | +4% above national |
| 183 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $40,800 | +4% above national |
| 184 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $40,800 | +4% above national |
| 185 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $40,780 | +4% above national |
| 186 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $40,650 | +4% above national |
| 187 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $40,600 | +4% above national |
| 188 | Twin Falls, ID | $40,590 | +4% above national |
| 189 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $40,580 | +4% above national |
| 190 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $40,560 | +4% above national |
| 191 | Columbia, MO | $40,550 | +4% above national |
| 192 | Chico, CA | $40,540 | +4% above national |
| 193 | Fresno, CA | $40,540 | +4% above national |
| 194 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $40,480 | +4% above national |
| 195 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $40,460 | +4% above national |
| 196 | Richmond, VA | $40,450 | +4% above national |
| 197 | Lancaster, PA | $40,400 | +3% above national |
| 198 | Bowling Green, KY | $40,350 | +3% above national |
| 199 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $40,350 | +3% above national |
| 200 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $40,290 | +3% above national |
| 201 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $40,240 | +3% above national |
| 202 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $40,190 | +3% above national |
| 203 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $40,190 | +3% above national |
| 204 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $40,120 | +3% above national |
| 205 | Akron, OH | $40,000 | +2% above national |
| 206 | Idaho Falls, ID | $39,910 | +2% above national |
| 207 | Modesto, CA | $39,900 | +2% above national |
| 208 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $39,890 | +2% above national |
| 209 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $39,870 | +2% above national |
| 210 | Binghamton, NY | $39,770 | +2% above national |
| 211 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $39,760 | +2% above national |
| 212 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $39,730 | +2% above national |
| 213 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $39,720 | +2% above national |
| 214 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,700 | +2% above national |
| 215 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $39,630 | +1% above national |
| 216 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $39,580 | +1% above national |
| 217 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $39,540 | +1% above national |
| 218 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $39,530 | +1% above national |
| 219 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $39,520 | +1% above national |
| 220 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $39,520 | +1% above national |
| 221 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $39,520 | +1% above national |
| 222 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $39,520 | +1% above national |
| 223 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $39,510 | +1% above national |
| 224 | Glens Falls, NY | $39,480 | +1% above national |
| 225 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,430 | +1% above national |
| 226 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $39,410 | +1% above national |
| 227 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $39,350 | +1% above national |
| 228 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $39,310 | +1% above national |
| 229 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $39,300 | +1% above national |
| 230 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $39,280 | +1% above national |
| 231 | Elmira, NY | $39,270 | +1% above national |
| 232 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $39,270 | +1% above national |
| 233 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $39,250 | same as national |
| 234 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $39,240 | same as national |
| 235 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $39,230 | same as national |
| 236 | Casper, WY | $39,170 | same as national |
| 237 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $39,150 | same as national |
| 238 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $39,140 | same as national |
| 239 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $39,120 | same as national |
| 240 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $39,100 | same as national |
| 241 | Ames, IA | $39,070 | same as national |
| 242 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $39,070 | same as national |
| 243 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $39,020 | same as national |
| 244 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $38,990 | same as national |
| 245 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,990 | same as national |
| 246 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $38,950 | same as national |
| 247 | Merced, CA | $38,880 | same as national |
| 248 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $38,870 | 1% below national |
| 249 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $38,850 | 1% below national |
| 250 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,850 | 1% below national |
| 251 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $38,790 | 1% below national |
| 252 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $38,760 | 1% below national |
| 253 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $38,710 | 1% below national |
| 254 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $38,680 | 1% below national |
| 255 | Colorado Springs, CO | $38,670 | 1% below national |
| 256 | Lynchburg, VA | $38,670 | 1% below national |
| 257 | Montgomery, AL | $38,630 | 1% below national |
| 258 | El Centro, CA | $38,610 | 1% below national |
| 259 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $38,590 | 1% below national |
| 260 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $38,540 | 1% below national |
| 261 | Williamsport, PA | $38,530 | 1% below national |
| 262 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $38,500 | 1% below national |
| 263 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $38,490 | 1% below national |
| 264 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,490 | 1% below national |
| 265 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $38,470 | 2% below national |
| 266 | Roanoke, VA | $38,460 | 2% below national |
| 267 | Hot Springs, AR | $38,440 | 2% below national |
| 268 | Wilmington, NC | $38,440 | 2% below national |
| 269 | Jackson, MI | $38,350 | 2% below national |
| 270 | Springfield, IL | $38,340 | 2% below national |
| 271 | Spartanburg, SC | $38,320 | 2% below national |
| 272 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $38,270 | 2% below national |
| 273 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $38,260 | 2% below national |
| 274 | Cleveland, TN | $38,170 | 2% below national |
| 275 | Midland, TX | $38,170 | 2% below national |
| 276 | Abilene, TX | $38,160 | 2% below national |
| 277 | Owensboro, KY | $38,150 | 2% below national |
| 278 | Lebanon, PA | $38,100 | 2% below national |
| 279 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $38,020 | 3% below national |
| 280 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $38,010 | 3% below national |
| 281 | Columbus, OH | $37,990 | 3% below national |
| 282 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $37,940 | 3% below national |
| 283 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,890 | 3% below national |
| 284 | Niles, MI | $37,870 | 3% below national |
| 285 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,830 | 3% below national |
| 286 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $37,790 | 3% below national |
| 287 | Utica-Rome, NY | $37,780 | 3% below national |
| 288 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $37,750 | 3% below national |
| 289 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,740 | 3% below national |
| 290 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $37,710 | 3% below national |
| 291 | Morristown, TN | $37,700 | 4% below national |
| 292 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $37,680 | 4% below national |
| 293 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $37,610 | 4% below national |
| 294 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $37,590 | 4% below national |
| 295 | Gettysburg, PA | $37,540 | 4% below national |
| 296 | Reno, NV | $37,540 | 4% below national |
| 297 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $37,530 | 4% below national |
| 298 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $37,520 | 4% below national |
| 299 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $37,490 | 4% below national |
| 300 | Lake Charles, LA | $37,440 | 4% below national |
| 301 | Gainesville, FL | $37,430 | 4% below national |
| 302 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $37,420 | 4% below national |
| 303 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,360 | 4% below national |
| 304 | Victoria, TX | $37,350 | 4% below national |
| 305 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,350 | 4% below national |
| 306 | Columbia, SC | $37,320 | 4% below national |
| 307 | Elizabethtown, KY | $37,320 | 4% below national |
| 308 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $37,310 | 5% below national |
| 309 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $37,290 | 5% below national |
| 310 | Chambersburg, PA | $37,280 | 5% below national |
| 311 | Jefferson City, MO | $37,260 | 5% below national |
| 312 | Boise City, ID | $37,220 | 5% below national |
| 313 | Toledo, OH | $37,220 | 5% below national |
| 314 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $37,200 | 5% below national |
| 315 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $37,190 | 5% below national |
| 316 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $37,140 | 5% below national |
| 317 | Odessa, TX | $37,130 | 5% below national |
| 318 | Johnson City, TN | $37,120 | 5% below national |
| 319 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $37,090 | 5% below national |
| 320 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $37,070 | 5% below national |
| 321 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $37,030 | 5% below national |
| 322 | Greenville, NC | $37,010 | 5% below national |
| 323 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,000 | 5% below national |
| 324 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $36,970 | 5% below national |
| 325 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $36,940 | 5% below national |
| 326 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,900 | 6% below national |
| 327 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $36,900 | 6% below national |
| 328 | Tucson, AZ | $36,890 | 6% below national |
| 329 | Kenosha, WI | $36,860 | 6% below national |
| 330 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $36,840 | 6% below national |
| 331 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,830 | 6% below national |
| 332 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $36,830 | 6% below national |
| 333 | Tulsa, OK | $36,810 | 6% below national |
| 334 | Baton Rouge, LA | $36,770 | 6% below national |
| 335 | Birmingham, AL | $36,710 | 6% below national |
| 336 | Evansville, IN | $36,630 | 6% below national |
| 337 | Huntsville, AL | $36,620 | 6% below national |
| 338 | Corpus Christi, TX | $36,610 | 6% below national |
| 339 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,560 | 6% below national |
| 340 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $36,510 | 7% below national |
| 341 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $36,450 | 7% below national |
| 342 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $36,440 | 7% below national |
| 343 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,430 | 7% below national |
| 344 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,430 | 7% below national |
| 345 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $36,400 | 7% below national |
| 346 | Dover, DE | $36,340 | 7% below national |
| 347 | Ann Arbor, MI | $36,330 | 7% below national |
| 348 | Longview, TX | $36,310 | 7% below national |
| 349 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $36,300 | 7% below national |
| 350 | Lafayette, LA | $36,280 | 7% below national |
| 351 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $36,240 | 7% below national |
| 352 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,240 | 7% below national |
| 353 | Decatur, AL | $36,170 | 7% below national |
| 354 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $36,140 | 7% below national |
| 355 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $36,110 | 8% below national |
| 356 | Columbus, GA-AL | $36,080 | 8% below national |
| 357 | Gainesville, GA | $36,080 | 8% below national |
| 358 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,080 | 8% below national |
| 359 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $35,950 | 8% below national |
| 360 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,900 | 8% below national |
| 361 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $35,900 | 8% below national |
| 362 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $35,820 | 8% below national |
| 363 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $35,650 | 9% below national |
| 364 | Springfield, OH | $35,630 | 9% below national |
| 365 | Altoona, PA | $35,540 | 9% below national |
| 366 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $35,530 | 9% below national |
| 367 | Battle Creek, MI | $35,520 | 9% below national |
| 368 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $35,480 | 9% below national |
| 369 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $35,460 | 9% below national |
| 370 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,460 | 9% below national |
| 371 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,430 | 9% below national |
| 372 | Albany, GA | $35,380 | 9% below national |
| 373 | Albuquerque, NM | $35,380 | 9% below national |
| 374 | Farmington, NM | $35,360 | 9% below national |
| 375 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,350 | 10% below national |
| 376 | Oklahoma City, OK | $35,330 | 10% below national |
| 377 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $35,270 | 10% below national |
| 378 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,260 | 10% below national |
| 379 | Harrisonburg, VA | $35,240 | 10% below national |
| 380 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $35,190 | 10% below national |
| 381 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $35,100 | 10% below national |
| 382 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $35,090 | 10% below national |
| 383 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $35,080 | 10% below national |
| 384 | Vineland, NJ | $35,080 | 10% below national |
| 385 | Waco, TX | $35,040 | 10% below national |
| 386 | St. George, UT | $35,000 | 10% below national |
| 387 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $34,900 | 11% below national |
| 388 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $34,860 | 11% below national |
| 389 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $34,800 | 11% below national |
| 390 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,780 | 11% below national |
| 391 | Gadsden, AL | $34,720 | 11% below national |
| 392 | Hammond, LA | $34,720 | 11% below national |
| 393 | Mobile, AL | $34,670 | 11% below national |
| 394 | Wichita Falls, TX | $34,630 | 11% below national |
| 395 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $34,630 | 11% below national |
| 396 | Omaha, NE-IA | $34,620 | 11% below national |
| 397 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $34,510 | 12% below national |
| 398 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $34,380 | 12% below national |
| 399 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $34,360 | 12% below national |
| 400 | Tallahassee, FL | $34,350 | 12% below national |
| 401 | Dothan, AL | $34,320 | 12% below national |
| 402 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $34,230 | 12% below national |
| 403 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $34,000 | 13% below national |
| 404 | San Angelo, TX | $34,000 | 13% below national |
| 405 | Jonesboro, AR | $33,990 | 13% below national |
| 406 | Monroe, LA | $33,980 | 13% below national |
| 407 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $33,880 | 13% below national |
| 408 | Dalton, GA | $33,850 | 13% below national |
| 409 | Florence, SC | $33,850 | 13% below national |
| 410 | Ocala, FL | $33,790 | 14% below national |
| 411 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $33,550 | 14% below national |
| 412 | Tyler, TX | $33,420 | 14% below national |
| 413 | Jackson, MS | $33,030 | 15% below national |
| 414 | Lubbock, TX | $32,830 | 16% below national |
| 415 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $32,470 | 17% below national |
| 416 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $32,220 | 18% below national |
| 417 | Las Cruces, NM | $31,920 | 18% below national |
| 418 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $31,670 | 19% below national |
| 419 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $31,550 | 19% below national |
| 420 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $31,020 | 21% below national |
| 421 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $31,010 | 21% below national |
| 422 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $30,960 | 21% below national |
| 423 | El Paso, TX | $30,460 | 22% below national |
| 424 | Muncie, IN | $29,540 | 24% below national |
| 425 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $29,340 | 25% below national |
| 426 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,750 | 29% below national |
| 427 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $27,370 | 30% below national |
| 428 | Arecibo, PR | $24,430 | 37% below national |
| 429 | Ponce, PR | $23,180 | 41% below national |
| 430 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,870 | 41% below national |
| 431 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $22,190 | 43% below national |
| 432 | Aguadilla, PR | $22,180 | 43% below national |
| 433 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,970 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Helpers--Production Workers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Helpers--Production Workers is $39,070 ($18.78/hour). The salary range spans from $31,140 at the 10th percentile to $53,410 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Helpers--Production Workers the most? ▼
North Dakota pays the highest median salary for Helpers--Production Workers at $46,170/year, which is +18% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Helpers--Production Workers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Helpers--Production Workers is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Helpers--Production Workers? ▼
Helpers--Production Workers has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 3.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.2 per 100 workers.
Is Helpers--Production Workers a good career? ▼
Employment for Helpers--Production Workers is projected to decline 8.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 23,600 openings are projected each year.
How does Helpers--Production Workers pay vary by state? ▼
Helpers--Production Workers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is North Dakota at $46,170/year, while New Mexico pays the least at $35,650/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Helpers--Production Workers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Helpers--Production Workers is Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area at $60,620/year. BLS reports wage data for 433 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Helpers--Production Workers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $45,990/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: North Dakota leads at $46,170/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.