51 Series · SOC 51-9197

Tire Builders Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$57,390
Median / year
$74,680
Top 10% earn
+2.3%
Growth '23–'33
20,770
US workers

Tire Builders earn a median of $57,390 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $57,390, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $40,150 (10th percentile) to $74,680 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 20,770 US workers. Tennessee pays the most ($74,100), since pay varies by state and metro area.

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Tire Builders earn a median of $57,390, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 43% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #21 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% by 2033.

$57,390
Median annual wage
Top 57%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#21 of 105
in Production
1.9×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Tennessee at $74,100. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Tire Builders (SOC 51-9197) pays a national median of $57,390 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $40,150 at the 10th percentile to $74,680 at the 90th, with a mean of $57,160 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 20,770 Americans work in this occupation across 20 reporting states and 10 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,500 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 moderate-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. Tennessee pays the highest state median at $74,100, which is +29% above the national figure. The top metro is Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA at $63,060 - 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 20,770 jobs Median $57,390/yr

Median Salary

$57,390

per year

Median Hourly

$27.59/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$57,160

average

Employment

20,770

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Tire Builders pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$57,390 Bottom 43% higher than 43% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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 Tire Builders; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Tire Builders sits on the slower-growing side at +2.3% growth and $57,390 median pay.

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Tire Builders sits on the slower-growing side at +2.3% growth and $57,390 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Tire Builders sits on the slower-growing side at +2.3% growth and $57,390 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+2.3%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

2,500

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-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 Tire Builders roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operation and Control 3.3
Operations Monitoring 3.1
Active Listening 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 2.8
Time Management 2.8
Speaking 2.6
Quality Control Analysis 2.6
Social Perceptiveness 2.4

Knowledge Areas

Production and Processing 3.7
Administration and Management 3.4
Mechanical 3.2
English Language 2.9
Engineering and Technology 2.8
Public Safety and Security 2.8
Education and Training 2.7
Customer and Personal Service 2.6
Mathematics 2.4
Design 2.3

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Place tires into molds for new tread.
  • ▸ Fit inner tubes and final layers of rubber onto tires.
  • ▸ Buff tires according to specifications for width and undertread depth.
  • ▸ Build semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping or retreading processes.
  • ▸ Brush or spray solvents onto plies to ensure adhesion, and repeat process as specified, alternating direction of each ply to strengthen tires.
  • ▸ Start rollers that bond tread and plies as drums revolve.
  • ▸ Align treads with guides, start drums to wind treads onto plies, and slice ends.
  • ▸ Inspect worn tires for faults, cracks, cuts, and nail holes, and to determine if tires are suitable for retreading.
  • ▸ Measure tires to determine mold size requirements.
  • ▸ Trim excess rubber and imperfections during retreading processes.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$40,150$47,900$57,390$64,380$74,680
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$19.31$23.03$27.59$30.95$35.91
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$40,150

25th Percentile

$47,900

Median

$57,390

75th Percentile

$64,380

90th Percentile

$74,680

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Tennessee $74,100 2. North Carolina $63,950 3. Illinois $59,830 4. Ohio $56,370 5. Texas $54,880

Lowest Paying States

16. Florida $44,150 17. Georgia $44,220 18. Michigan $44,420 19. California $44,790 20. Pennsylvania $45,270
View all 20 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Tennessee $74,100 +29% above national
2 North Carolina $63,950 +11% above national
3 Illinois $59,830 +4% above national
4 Ohio $56,370 2% below national
5 Texas $54,880 4% below national
6 Mississippi $53,050 8% below national
7 Indiana $51,170 11% below national
8 Iowa $50,600 12% below national
9 Connecticut $48,630 15% below national
10 Oregon $48,380 16% below national
11 New York $46,550 19% below national
12 Maryland $46,290 19% below national
13 Kentucky $46,010 20% below national
14 Oklahoma $45,830 20% below national
15 Arizona $45,770 20% below national
16 Pennsylvania $45,270 21% below national
17 California $44,790 22% below national
18 Michigan $44,420 23% below national
19 Georgia $44,220 23% below national
20 Florida $44,150 23% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $63,060 2. Jackson, MS $55,380 3. Fort Wayne, IN $51,170 4. Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $50,320 5. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $48,690

Lowest Paying Metros

6. Burlington, NC $39,720 7. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $44,570 8. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $44,600 9. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $46,810 10. Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $47,190
View all 10 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $63,060 +10% above national
2 Jackson, MS $55,380 4% below national
3 Fort Wayne, IN $51,170 11% below national
4 Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $50,320 12% below national
5 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $48,690 15% below national
6 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $47,190 18% below national
7 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $46,810 18% below national
8 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $44,600 22% below national
9 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $44,570 22% below national
10 Burlington, NC $39,720 31% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

SOC 51-9191

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

SOC 51-2011

Bakers

SOC 51-3011

Butchers and Meat Cutters

SOC 51-3021

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

SOC 51-7011
Compare Tire Builders side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Tire Builders make? ▼
The median annual salary for Tire Builders is $57,390 ($27.59/hour). The salary range spans from $40,150 at the 10th percentile to $74,680 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Tire Builders the most? ▼
Tennessee pays the highest median salary for Tire Builders at $74,100/year, which is +29% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Tire Builders? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Tire Builders is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Tire Builders? ▼
Tire Builders 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 Tire Builders a good career? ▼
Employment for Tire Builders is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 2,500 openings are projected each year.
How does Tire Builders pay vary by state? ▼
Tire Builders salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Tennessee at $74,100/year, while Pennsylvania pays the least at $45,270/year. BLS data covers 20 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Tire Builders? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Tire Builders is Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA at $63,060/year. BLS reports wage data for 10 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 Tire Builders pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $64,380/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: Tennessee leads at $74,100/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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

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.