Production Occupations in Illinois, May 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 state estimates. BLS sorts every occupation into one of 22 major groups; this is the Production Occupations group in Illinois. These are estimates of jobs and wages, not job openings.
The group’s own figures in Illinois
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupation group code | 51-0000 |
| Employment | 424,440 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 69.979 |
| Location quotient | 1.23 |
| Mean annual wage | $50,170 |
| Median annual wage | $46,070 |
| Mean hourly wage | $24.12 |
| Median hourly wage | $22.15 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $33,910 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $37,640 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $57,900 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $75,020 |
Detailed occupations in this group in Illinois
Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this group in Illinois, sorted by employment. Rows where BLS publishes no employment estimate (**) come last. Click a column heading to sort. A cell that reads “not published annually” or “not published hourly” means BLS publishes that row on the other basis only. A cell showing * or # is BLS’s own footnote symbol, explained below the table. Each row is that occupation’s own BLS record for Illinois.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | 10th percentile annual wage | 90th percentile annual wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 82,000 | $41,160 | $44,840 | $31,790 | $61,630 | $19.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 32,330 | $69,960 | $73,650 | $46,280 | $101,610 | $33.64 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 30,740 | $47,040 | $50,030 | $34,850 | $70,760 | $22.62 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 29,460 | $40,920 | $44,250 | $34,040 | $58,040 | $19.67 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 17,340 | $49,730 | $53,630 | $38,330 | $70,750 | $23.91 |
| Machinists | 16,100 | $56,700 | $57,870 | $37,560 | $79,820 | $27.26 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 14,660 | $39,880 | $42,540 | $31,010 | $58,600 | $19.18 |
| Food Batchmakers | 13,400 | $48,440 | $48,820 | $36,100 | $62,290 | $23.29 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 13,180 | $42,320 | $44,290 | $32,920 | $61,030 | $20.35 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 12,540 | $39,770 | $45,720 | $31,700 | $70,740 | $19.12 |
| Bakers | 10,730 | $36,770 | $37,840 | $30,410 | $46,470 | $17.68 |
| Printing Press Operators | 10,060 | $47,210 | $49,070 | $30,120 | $75,680 | $22.7 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 9,400 | $48,010 | $50,420 | $37,170 | $65,240 | $23.08 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 9,000 | $38,530 | $40,910 | $31,650 | $51,640 | $18.52 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 8,350 | $45,700 | $46,690 | $35,520 | $61,120 | $21.97 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 7,900 | $48,420 | $50,920 | $35,090 | $64,770 | $23.28 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 7,830 | $35,140 | $35,210 | $29,760 | $42,650 | $16.9 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 6,840 | $45,620 | $49,650 | $35,190 | $74,560 | $21.93 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 5,720 | $56,860 | $52,950 | $39,870 | $60,210 | $27.34 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 5,380 | $40,180 | $42,980 | $34,570 | $54,240 | $19.32 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 5,180 | $48,210 | $49,280 | $35,480 | $69,190 | $23.18 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 5,100 | $45,970 | $47,140 | $36,740 | $60,420 | $22.1 |
| Tool and Die Makers | 4,590 | $60,610 | $62,100 | $41,540 | $83,720 | $29.14 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 4,310 | $39,420 | $41,030 | $36,440 | $50,050 | $18.95 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | 4,120 | $35,540 | $37,750 | $31,400 | $45,680 | $17.09 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 3,870 | $63,790 | $69,250 | $45,460 | $98,820 | $30.67 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 3,730 | $40,800 | $42,960 | $33,780 | $51,800 | $19.61 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 3,490 | $64,270 | $65,020 | $43,760 | $88,020 | $30.9 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 2,590 | $46,960 | $45,120 | $35,990 | $56,140 | $22.58 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 2,550 | $40,310 | $40,550 | $31,920 | $45,580 | $19.38 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 2,020 | $51,110 | $52,450 | $35,880 | $68,020 | $24.57 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,900 | $49,070 | $51,350 | $36,770 | $72,150 | $23.59 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,880 | $44,990 | $43,980 | $35,210 | $50,660 | $21.63 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,860 | $47,680 | $51,770 | $32,970 | $74,630 | $22.92 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 1,670 | $112,230 | $103,530 | $67,570 | $128,390 | $53.96 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 1,650 | $49,250 | $52,960 | $38,440 | $66,560 | $23.68 |
| Power Plant Operators | 1,630 | $103,020 | $97,440 | $75,920 | $108,810 | $49.53 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | 1,440 | $50,500 | $54,040 | $36,100 | $79,760 | $24.28 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,430 | $55,620 | $51,870 | $36,290 | $61,380 | $26.74 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 1,430 | $44,620 | $44,140 | $34,570 | $55,640 | $21.45 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,390 | $52,360 | $53,150 | $45,410 | $62,940 | $25.17 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 1,160 | $45,720 | $47,260 | $36,180 | $65,090 | $21.98 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 1,100 | $98,240 | $100,260 | $96,900 | $106,360 | $47.23 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 1,060 | $55,490 | $54,860 | $37,080 | $75,870 | $26.68 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 1,030 | $65,920 | $69,400 | $50,540 | $89,260 | $31.69 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,010 | $52,850 | $53,840 | $30,100 | $72,160 | $25.41 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 990 | $40,810 | $49,910 | $31,200 | $80,370 | $19.62 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 970 | $47,680 | $46,700 | $38,000 | $58,940 | $22.92 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 960 | $41,710 | $43,080 | $32,040 | $57,870 | $20.05 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 920 | $42,890 | $44,270 | $35,830 | $53,000 | $20.62 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 840 | $47,730 | $51,060 | $32,980 | $67,550 | $22.95 |
| Gas Plant Operators | 810 | $95,950 | $90,150 | $66,590 | $107,160 | $46.13 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 720 | $40,230 | $46,400 | $38,210 | $59,920 | $19.34 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 660 | $45,410 | $46,580 | $37,840 | $58,850 | $21.83 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 660 | $49,470 | $54,200 | $36,160 | $82,210 | $23.78 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 570 | $64,060 | $62,080 | $45,880 | $75,130 | $30.8 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 560 | $37,170 | $38,810 | $31,260 | $49,130 | $17.87 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 550 | $83,960 | $89,910 | $65,360 | $121,940 | $40.37 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 470 | $57,140 | $54,440 | $37,700 | $70,350 | $27.47 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | 460 | * | * | * | * | * |
| Upholsterers | 410 | $42,290 | $44,250 | $33,880 | $58,290 | $20.33 |
| Etchers and Engravers | 390 | $47,720 | $45,650 | $33,170 | $48,570 | $22.94 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 390 | $48,320 | $48,510 | $37,830 | $57,240 | $23.23 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 360 | $38,340 | $43,150 | $30,490 | $63,660 | $18.43 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 340 | $51,860 | $54,540 | $40,030 | $71,510 | $24.94 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | 340 | $56,090 | $63,290 | $47,630 | $81,640 | $26.97 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 340 | $33,880 | $34,810 | $30,600 | $39,420 | $16.29 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 330 | $54,200 | $54,220 | $37,590 | $67,330 | $26.06 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 320 | $47,540 | $48,540 | $41,740 | $57,200 | $22.86 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 300 | $48,010 | $53,050 | $36,680 | $79,350 | $23.08 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | 290 | $66,580 | $66,780 | $58,540 | $75,730 | $32.01 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | 280 | $40,610 | $41,950 | $33,400 | $55,700 | $19.53 |
| Furniture Finishers | 260 | $44,950 | $44,270 | $34,930 | $51,250 | $21.61 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 250 | $56,200 | $56,980 | $56,200 | $56,820 | $27.02 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 230 | $37,850 | $38,970 | $34,480 | $45,530 | $18.2 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | 210 | $61,710 | $61,420 | $47,000 | $79,560 | $29.67 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 200 | $48,750 | $54,640 | $43,460 | $84,670 | $23.44 |
| Sewers, Hand | 170 | $34,000 | $37,220 | $32,670 | $45,360 | $16.35 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | 170 | $38,790 | $39,890 | $29,120 | $55,230 | $18.65 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 170 | $35,540 | $36,610 | $30,410 | $44,410 | $17.09 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 150 | $41,310 | $47,150 | $41,290 | $66,910 | $19.86 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | 60 | $58,200 | $55,010 | $44,760 | $63,920 | $27.98 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 50 | $51,270 | $60,540 | $38,860 | $90,830 | $24.65 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 40 | $38,220 | $41,680 | $31,720 | $59,410 | $18.38 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 40 | $80,190 | $79,090 | $76,420 | $84,470 | $38.55 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | ** | $43,020 | $45,300 | $40,360 | $56,200 | $20.68 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | ** | $66,660 | $59,450 | $42,000 | $66,670 | $32.05 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | ** | $29,120 | $37,350 | $29,120 | $66,380 | $14 |
Symbols (BLS wording, workbook sheet Field Descriptions sheet): ** indicates that an employment estimate is not available · * indicates that a wage estimate is not available · # indicates a wage equal to or greater than $115.00 per hour or $239,200 per year. A wage shown as a symbol is not zero and not a blank: BLS publishes no number there.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 state estimates. Record: state_M2024_dl.xlsx!AREA=17&OCC_CODE=51-0000. the group row is AREA 17 / OCC_CODE 51-0000, and each table row is its own detailed record for this area, AREA 17 / OCC_CODE 51-xxxx. Reference period: May 2024. Fetched October 2026 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip.