Helpers--Production Workers salary in the U.S.
Helpers--Production Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $39,070 a year ($18.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 165,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,410 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $41,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for Helpers--Production workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,140 | $14.97 |
| 25th percentile | $35,220 | $16.93 |
| Median | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| 75th percentile | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,410 | $25.68 |
| Average (mean) | $41,120 | $19.77 |
Half of Helpers--Production workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,255.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,627.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,502.69 |
| Weekly | $751.35 |
| Hourly | $18.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Helpers--Production Workers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Rhode Island | $44,720 | 210 |
| Maryland | $44,680 | 1,650 |
| Hawaii | $44,380 | 230 |
| Maine | $44,120 | 470 |
| California | $43,970 | 16,730 |
| New York | $43,540 | 3,810 |
| New Hampshire | $42,740 | 690 |
| Alaska | $42,530 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $42,280 | 1,790 |
| Indiana | $42,210 | 2,450 |
| Kentucky | $42,130 | 2,900 |
| Michigan | $41,660 | 3,610 |
| Illinois | $41,480 | 5,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,060 | 6,450 |
| Missouri | $40,580 | 6,250 |
| Wyoming | $40,200 | 280 |
| Nevada | $39,730 | 680 |
| Arizona | $39,680 | 1,350 |
| Ohio | $39,600 | 4,280 |
| Vermont | $39,540 | 270 |
| North Carolina | $39,410 | 4,350 |
| New Jersey | $39,290 | 4,450 |
| West Virginia | $39,190 | 670 |
| Delaware | $38,380 | 230 |
| Tennessee | $38,330 | 5,270 |
| Idaho | $38,240 | 1,140 |
| Florida | $37,950 | 5,010 |
| Virginia | $37,740 | 3,900 |
| Kansas | $37,320 | 1,430 |
| Utah | $37,110 | 1,000 |
| South Carolina | $36,610 | 1,950 |
| Texas | $36,610 | 30,470 |
| Louisiana | $36,400 | 3,710 |
| Georgia | $36,280 | 4,480 |
| Oklahoma | $36,240 | 2,200 |
| Alabama | $35,910 | 7,230 |
| New Mexico | $35,650 | 810 |
| Arkansas | $35,540 | 6,760 |
| Mississippi | $33,880 | 3,540 |
| Guam | $29,520 | 310 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,780 | 1,510 |
Best-paying metro areas for Helpers--Production workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA | $54,550 | 340 |
| Albany, OR | $52,290 | 200 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $52,050 | 200 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $50,480 | 290 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $50,190 | 80 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $50,110 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,920 | 230 |
| New Haven, CT | $49,900 | 320 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $49,680 | 70 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $49,020 | 90 |
| Pueblo, CO | $48,970 | 100 |
| Wausau, WI | $48,790 | 70 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $48,690 | 500 |
| Green Bay, WI | $48,670 | 260 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $48,520 | 420 |
Metro areas with the most Helpers--Production workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,640 | $37,890 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,120 | $37,290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,810 | $42,490 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,780 | $40,970 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,710 | $41,480 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 2,290 | $40,190 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,190 | $40,580 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,080 | $46,980 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,990 | $43,210 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,920 | $37,000 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,840 | $42,210 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,800 | $44,770 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 1,700 | $37,530 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,590 | $47,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,480 | $46,290 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $51,430 | $24.73 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9198. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Helpers--Production workers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for Helpers--Production workers in the U.S. is $39,070 a year, or $18.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Helpers--Production workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of Helpers--Production workers in the U.S. earn at least $53,410 a year. The top 25% earn $45,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for Helpers--Production workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,140 a year, and a quarter of Helpers--Production workers earn $35,220 or less.
How many Helpers--Production workers work in the U.S.?
About 165,700 Helpers--Production workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.