SOC 51-0000

Production Occupations

57 occupations sit in this SOC major group. Each one links to the degree programs that feed it, the schools that graduate the most people into it, and what it pays state by state.

57 occupations in this group

Ordered by how many people the job employs nationally. Graduates per year counts everyone finishing a program that feeds the job.

Occupations in Production Occupations
Occupation	Median pay	Jobs	Growth	Schools	Graduates / yr
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 51-1011	$74,450	673,430	+1.2%	144	11,666
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 51-9061	$48,570	597,370	0.0%	49	442
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 51-4121	$53,750	416,210	+2.2%	928	64,705
Machinists 51-4041	$58,750	287,050	0.0%	300	5,031
Bakers 51-3011	$37,160	236,200	+5.6%	193	5,575
Food Batchmakers 51-3092	$42,290	174,520	+6.9%	23	212
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4031	$46,330	171,200	-12.1%	238	3,904
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 51-9161	$50,690	169,450	-10.7%	225	3,790
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9124	$48,250	158,740	+0.7%	264	5,352
Printing Press Operators 51-5112	$45,780	144,260	-8.1%	34	487
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders 51-9011	$58,040	139,630	+3.3%	70	2,964
Butchers and Meat Cutters 51-3021	$40,140	136,430	+1.0%	10	48
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators 51-8031	$60,020	128,490	-6.5%	56	860
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4081	$47,180	124,590	-0.5%	300	5,031
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters 51-7011	$46,680	77,170	-1.6%	37	483
Slaughterers and Meat Packers 51-3023	$40,130	69,950	+2.2%	10	48
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4033	$46,550	67,000	-12.0%	300	5,031
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-7042	$43,380	61,420	-1.8%	42	520
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4021	$47,720	60,840	+1.2%	228	3,489
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-9012	$51,610	60,100	-4.3%	49	451
Tool and Die Makers 51-4111	$64,050	56,930	-10.8%	35	423
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters 51-2041	$51,330	52,360	-16.3%	105	2,130
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood 51-7041	$42,770	40,850	-0.6%	37	483
Dental Laboratory Technicians 51-9081	$49,610	34,410	-4.7%	21	254
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers 51-2011	$65,380	34,020	-14.5%	185	13,805
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers 51-2031	$53,710	34,000	-21.1%	2	55
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-4122	$47,920	31,600	-9.0%	911	64,198
Semiconductor Processing Technicians 51-9141	$51,430	31,460	+10.9%	115	3,413
Power Plant Operators 51-8013	$102,040	29,320	-11.2%	5	74
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers 51-9162	$68,120	28,500	+12.8%	166	2,248
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4023	$50,140	25,250	-8.3%	238	3,904
Prepress Technicians and Workers 51-5111	$48,690	23,840	-14.6%	137	2,291
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers 51-9071	$52,540	22,440	-5.5%	28	809
Upholsterers 51-6093	$46,340	20,140	-1.8%	5	28
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians 51-9083	$39,460	18,660	+2.3%	3	72
Gas Plant Operators 51-8092	$87,820	18,030	-8.8%	22	254
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4034	$50,620	16,710	-13.6%	228	3,489
Chemical Plant and System Operators 51-8091	$78,120	16,610	-6.1%	70	2,964
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other 51-4199	$45,950	15,900	-9.5%	313	5,327
Furniture Finishers 51-7021	$44,540	14,480	-3.3%	7	56
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4191	$48,750	14,000	-12.8%	300	5,031
Foundry Mold and Coremakers 51-4071	$48,110	12,790	-25.9%	2	102
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4035	$52,800	12,460	-14.4%	228	3,489
Medical Appliance Technicians 51-9082	$48,030	11,280	+3.7%	24	354
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4022	$49,030	8,930	-18.9%	228	3,489
Etchers and Engravers 51-9194	$43,310	7,750	-0.7%	10	170
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic 51-4192	$63,870	5,970	-5.4%	300	5,031
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners 51-4194	$50,060	5,600	-7.8%	87	1,542
Woodworkers, All Other 51-7099	$44,530	5,490	-4.4%	52	610
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators 51-8011	$122,890	5,150	-15.3%	8	78
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4032	$49,080	4,680	-19.6%	228	3,489
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers 51-6092	$62,750	2,950	-10.2%	19	244
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic 51-4061	$63,340	2,610	-18.2%	18	415
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic 51-4062	$58,000	1,470	-24.4%	18	415
Model Makers, Wood 51-7031	$56,550	280	-4.5%	39	511
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters 51-2061	$62,620	250	-17.5%	5	78
Patternmakers, Wood 51-7032	$49,630	220	-5.0%	37	483

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · IPEDS Fall 2025–26 provisional · College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Graduates per year are IPEDS completions across every program that feeds the occupation. All sources & release dates →

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