Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Production workers, all other (occupation code 51-9199) represent a sizable national workforce, with 293,000 people employed across the country. The role draws on a wide mix of hands-on and cognitive abilities, from mechanical and fine motor skills to problem solving, mathematics, and computers and information technology. A national median annual salary of $38,820 positions this occupation as a way to earn steady income with a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education requirement. The field combines physical strength and stamina with detail orientation, critical and analytical thinking, and even science knowledge, offering multiple ways for workers to apply their strengths. With projected national employment growth of 0.5% and about 32,000 annual openings, this career path presents ongoing movement in the labor market. Individuals interested in production environments and practical, skill-based work may also consider related paths such as assemblers, fabricators, or various machine operator roles listed among the similar occupations.
Production workers, all other earn a national median annual salary of $38,820. Pay opportunities vary by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, Colorado reports a median salary of $47,200 and Washington $47,060, both above the national median. Massachusetts shows $45,780, while New York and California have median salaries of $42,070 and $41,670, respectively. At the metro level, some areas stand out with higher median pay. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area reports $48,790, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is close behind at $49,450. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area has a median salary of $47,540, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $46,710. These figures suggest that workers willing to target specific regions may find higher earning potential than the overall national median.
Production workers, all other have a national employment base of 293,000, indicating a broad presence across industries that use this occupation. Projected employment growth is 0.5%, suggesting a modest positive trajectory rather than steep expansion or contraction. In practical terms, the market is expected to generate about 32,000 annual openings. This level of openings reflects ongoing hiring activity, which can include new positions as well as turnover and replacement needs. The combination of an established employment base, positive projected growth, and consistent openings can appeal to job seekers who value a role with continuing labor-market movement. Because the projection and growth figures are similar across the highlighted states and metro areas, individuals can compare locations based more on salary, opportunity scores, and personal circumstances while knowing that the projected growth rate of 0.5% is consistent in the featured regions.
Geography can significantly shape the experience of production workers, all other. Among states, California offers a median salary of $41,670 with 28,090 employed and an opportunity score of 67.38, reflecting both a large employment base and relatively strong overall opportunity. Massachusetts and New York show higher median salaries of $45,780 and $42,070, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, respectively. Colorado and Washington feature some of the highest state-level median salaries at $47,200 and $47,060, along with opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $49,450. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has a similar opportunity score of 77.27 and the largest listed metro employment at 4,740. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA also combine relatively high median salaries with opportunity scores above 60, offering multiple strong regional options.
The typical education requirement for production workers, all other is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who do not plan to pursue a four-year degree but still want to build a skill-based career. Success in this occupation draws on a broad mix of capabilities. Mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, and physical strength and stamina support the hands-on, physical side of the work. At the same time, there is a strong cognitive component: workers benefit from being detail oriented and using critical and analytical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. Skills in science and mathematics, along with familiarity with computers and information technology, also play a role. Leadership is another highlighted strength, suggesting that some positions or career paths within this occupation may involve guiding others or coordinating activities. Together, these skills provide multiple avenues for workers to grow and differentiate themselves over time.
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