Helpers--Production Workers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for helpers--production workers in the U.S. is $39,070 ($18.78 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $39,070
- Mean annual wage
- $41,120
- Median hourly wage
- $18.78
- Employment
- 165,700
165,700 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,140 | $14.97 |
| 25th percentile | $35,220 | $16.93 |
| Median (50th) | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| 75th percentile | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| 90th percentile | $53,410 | $25.68 |
Highest-paying states for helpers--production workers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $46,170 | 220 |
| Montana | $46,110 | 220 |
| Iowa | $45,560 | 2,070 |
| Colorado | $45,550 | 1,350 |
| Washington | $45,450 | 3,620 |
| Oregon | $45,390 | 2,420 |
| Connecticut | $45,260 | 1,400 |
| Wisconsin | $45,100 | 2,900 |
| Nebraska | $45,020 | 700 |
| Minnesota | $44,720 | 2,570 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $33,880 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $35,540 median annual wage
- New Mexico: $35,650 median annual wage
- Alabama: $35,910 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $36,240 median annual wage
About this occupation
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Typical tasks
- Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
- Operate machinery used in the production process, or assist machine operators.
- Turn valves to regulate flow of liquids or air, to reverse machines, to start pumps, or to regulate equipment.
- Prepare raw materials for processing.
- Perform minor repairs to machines, such as replacing damaged or worn parts.
- Unclamp and hoist full reels from braiding, winding, or other fabricating machines, using power hoists.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 26.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 40.4% |
| Some college, no degree | 16.9% |
| Associate's degree | 6.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7.5% |
| Master's degree | 2.1% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.7% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.