CareerFacts

All careers › Helpers--Production Workers

Production helper: pay, job outlook and how to get started

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$39,070median pay per year, or $18.78 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,140lowest 10% earn less
  2. $35,22025th percentile
  3. $39,070median
  4. $45,99075th percentile
  5. $53,410top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Production helpers earned a median of $39,070 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment in this occupation to fall 8.2% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-8.2%[2]
Openings per year
20,900[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do production helpers make?

BLS groups these jobs as Helpers--Production Workers. The median wage was $39,070 a year, or $18.78 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of the workers earned more than that and half earned less. The mean (average) was $41,120 a year, or $19.77 an hour[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,140 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $35,220[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $45,990, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $53,410[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $14.97 and the 90th percentile was $25.68[9].

The median annual wage across all occupations was $50,980[5]. So the median for production helpers sat below the all-occupation median. A percentile is a boundary line in the pay data, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include benefits or certain bonuses[11].

Pay by state and city

North Dakota had the highest state-level median at $46,170, followed by Montana at $46,110 and Iowa at $45,560[12]. Mississippi had the lowest published median at $33,880[12].

Texas had the most jobs, at 30,470, followed by California with 16,730 and Alabama with 7,230[13]. Among metro areas, Reading, PA had the highest median at $54,550, and Albany, OR came next at $52,290[14]. The metro area with the most jobs was Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX with 8,640 jobs and a median of $37,890[15].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
North Dakota[12]$46,170220
Montana$46,110220
Iowa$45,5602,070
Colorado$45,5501,350
Washington$45,4503,620
Oregon$45,3902,420
Connecticut$45,2601,400
Wisconsin$45,1002,900
Nebraska$45,020700
Minnesota$44,7202,570
Rhode Island$44,720210
Maryland$44,6801,650
Hawaii$44,380230
Maine$44,120470
California$43,97016,730
New York$43,5403,810
New Hampshire$42,740690
Alaska$42,530280
Massachusetts$42,2801,790
Indiana$42,2102,450
Kentucky$42,1302,900
Michigan$41,6603,610
Illinois$41,4805,210
Pennsylvania$41,0606,450
Missouri$40,5806,250
Wyoming$40,200280
Nevada$39,730680
Arizona$39,6801,350
Ohio$39,6004,280
Vermont$39,540270
North Carolina$39,4104,350
New Jersey$39,2904,450
West Virginia$39,190670
Delaware$38,380230
Tennessee$38,3305,270
Idaho$38,2401,140
Florida$37,9505,010
Virginia$37,7403,900
Kansas$37,3201,430
Utah$37,1101,000
South Carolina$36,6101,950
Texas$36,61030,470
Louisiana$36,4003,710
Georgia$36,2804,480
Oklahoma$36,2402,200
Alabama$35,9107,230
New Mexico$35,650810
Arkansas$35,5406,760
Mississippi$33,8803,540

How to get started as a production helper

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training[7].

In an ONET survey of 20 workers, 35% said less than a high school diploma was required, 32% said a high school diploma or equivalent, and 20% said a post-secondary certificate[16]. This is a very small survey, so treat it as a rough picture only. ONET places the job in a group needing very little to some preparation[17].

What production helpers do

O*NET describes the job as supporting production workers with less skilled duties, such as supplying or holding materials and tools and cleaning the work area and equipment[18]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report titles such as production helper, machine helper, press helper and assembly line worker[20].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of production helpers to fall 8.2% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That is from about 167,400 to 153,600 jobs, a drop of 13,800[2]. Across all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[3]. BLS lists automation as a factor, noting that it continues to replace helpers in manufacturing facilities[21].

Jobs still open up. BLS expects about 20,900 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings count more than new jobs. They also include positions that open when people retire or switch occupations[6]. Each year, an estimated 5.8% of workers leave the labor force and 8.1% move to a different occupation[22]. About 1.7% of production helpers were self-employed in 2025[23].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe an occupation with a low barrier to entry, since a high school diploma and short on-the-job training are typical[7]. The median wage is below the all-occupation median[1][5]. Employment is projected to shrink[2], though openings still come from workers leaving the job[6][22]. Pay varies by state, so local figures are worth checking[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a production helper make an hour?
The median was $18.78 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $14.97 and the 90th percentile was $25.68[9].
What education do you need to be a production helper?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with short-term on-the-job training[7].
Is production helper a growing job?
BLS projects an 8.2% decline from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][3]. About 20,900 openings a year are still expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for production helpers?
North Dakota had the highest median at $46,170[12]. Montana was next at $46,110 and Iowa third at $45,560[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Helpers--Production Workers in the US was $39,070 per year and $18.78 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Helpers--Production Workers is projected to decline 8.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 167,400 to 153,600 jobs (a change of -13,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Helpers--Production Workers: 10th percentile $31,140, 25th percentile $35,220, 75th percentile $45,990, 90th percentile $53,410. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 20,900 openings for Helpers--Production Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Helpers--Production Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Helpers--Production Workers was $41,120 per year and $19.77 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Helpers--Production Workers: 10th percentile $14.97, 25th percentile $16.93, 75th percentile $22.11, 90th percentile $25.68. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Helpers--Production Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Helpers--Production Workers jobs: Texas 30,470; California 16,730; Alabama 7,230; Arkansas 6,760; Pennsylvania 6,450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Helpers--Production Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Reading, PA $54,550; Albany, OR $52,290; Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $52,050; Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $50,480; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $49,920; New Haven, CT $49,900; Pueblo, CO $48,970; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $48,690. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Helpers--Production Workers jobs: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 8,640 (median $37,890); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 8,120 (median $37,290); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,810 (median $42,490); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 4,780 (median $40,970); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,710 (median $41,480); St. Louis, MO-IL 2,290 (median $40,190). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 51-9198.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 35%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 32%, Post-Secondary Certificate 20%, First Professional Degree 8%, Some College Courses 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 51-9198.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Helpers--Production Workers. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Helpers--Production Workers. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 51-9198.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Assembly Line Worker, Control Room Helper, Laminator Helper, Machine Helper, Machine Operator Helper, Press Helper, Press Room Helper, Production Helper. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Helpers--Production Workers: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as automation continues to replace production worker helpers in manufacturing facilities. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Helpers--Production Workers: 5.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 8.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections: 1.7% of Helpers--Production Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.