Production Occupations in New Jersey, 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 New Jersey. These are estimates of jobs and wages, not job openings.
The group’s own figures in New Jersey
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupation group code | 51-0000 |
| Employment | 167,990 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 39.524 |
| Location quotient | 0.7 |
| Mean annual wage | $51,600 |
| Median annual wage | $45,760 |
| Mean hourly wage | $24.81 |
| Median hourly wage | $22 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $31,720 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $36,460 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $60,660 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $79,620 |
Detailed occupations in this group in New Jersey
Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this group in New Jersey, 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 New Jersey.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | 10th percentile annual wage | 90th percentile annual wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 18,040 | $38,610 | $41,890 | $31,480 | $56,970 | $18.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 14,600 | $79,350 | $83,340 | $50,080 | $122,670 | $38.15 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 12,610 | $48,850 | $53,150 | $34,980 | $77,100 | $23.49 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 9,120 | $42,190 | $44,630 | $32,040 | $59,230 | $20.28 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 8,710 | $49,700 | $54,820 | $34,090 | $77,150 | $23.9 |
| Bakers | 8,620 | $36,650 | $39,430 | $31,470 | $53,010 | $17.62 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 7,350 | $40,220 | $44,680 | $31,470 | $61,970 | $19.34 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 5,490 | $34,330 | $35,480 | $31,470 | $42,230 | $16.51 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 4,890 | $38,710 | $42,310 | $32,380 | $55,940 | $18.61 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 4,480 | $38,870 | $44,160 | $31,470 | $63,680 | $18.69 |
| Food Batchmakers | 4,480 | $36,470 | $39,730 | $31,470 | $51,650 | $17.53 |
| Printing Press Operators | 3,840 | $51,760 | $55,230 | $38,950 | $75,120 | $24.88 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 3,720 | $39,530 | $40,940 | $31,470 | $53,560 | $19.01 |
| Machinists | 3,530 | $62,010 | $65,150 | $44,410 | $90,850 | $29.81 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3,390 | $37,490 | $40,850 | $31,470 | $51,170 | $18.02 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 3,310 | $59,840 | $60,490 | $37,450 | $80,170 | $28.77 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 3,300 | $59,630 | $64,500 | $40,410 | $90,390 | $28.67 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | 3,050 | $35,080 | $36,870 | $31,470 | $46,250 | $16.86 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3,030 | $35,910 | $39,970 | $31,470 | $52,840 | $17.26 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,570 | $46,200 | $46,490 | $36,300 | $60,270 | $22.21 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,170 | $58,850 | $58,640 | $39,140 | $76,470 | $28.3 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 2,040 | $75,200 | $75,070 | $49,440 | $97,820 | $36.15 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 2,010 | $56,750 | $57,450 | $36,780 | $78,620 | $27.28 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,880 | $47,170 | $47,940 | $36,310 | $62,800 | $22.68 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,820 | $47,720 | $48,890 | $37,640 | $61,500 | $22.94 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 1,490 | $45,980 | $46,850 | $34,620 | $62,260 | $22.11 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 1,160 | $51,430 | $58,230 | $40,430 | $84,020 | $24.73 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 1,130 | $74,620 | $75,540 | $57,720 | $99,570 | $35.87 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,000 | $45,990 | $47,120 | $31,470 | $63,970 | $22.11 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | 940 | $48,780 | $57,490 | $31,620 | $99,050 | $23.45 |
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 940 | $53,910 | $52,540 | $40,600 | $63,390 | $25.92 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 930 | $38,190 | $40,800 | $31,470 | $51,680 | $18.36 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 850 | $40,260 | $43,680 | $31,470 | $62,870 | $19.36 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 840 | $55,930 | $57,730 | $40,540 | $76,440 | $26.89 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 830 | $34,410 | $37,630 | $31,470 | $54,060 | $16.54 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 810 | $49,540 | $50,190 | $36,960 | $62,890 | $23.82 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 810 | $36,420 | $39,550 | $31,470 | $48,650 | $17.51 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 800 | $49,120 | $54,000 | $37,530 | $74,360 | $23.62 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 800 | $40,190 | $46,550 | $35,480 | $60,750 | $19.32 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 790 | $37,330 | $39,220 | $33,900 | $46,000 | $17.95 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 740 | $36,470 | $40,040 | $31,470 | $55,050 | $17.54 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 710 | $45,510 | $53,860 | $34,290 | $91,500 | $21.88 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 690 | $34,860 | $35,670 | $31,470 | $41,840 | $16.76 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 650 | $36,100 | $39,220 | $31,470 | $49,100 | $17.36 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 650 | $49,880 | $57,580 | $36,930 | $87,970 | $23.98 |
| Tool and Die Makers | 620 | $75,920 | $74,010 | $46,760 | $100,020 | $36.5 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 600 | $66,800 | $68,850 | $46,840 | $98,450 | $32.11 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 520 | $59,210 | $59,960 | $37,860 | $81,010 | $28.47 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 510 | $47,410 | $52,380 | $37,240 | $74,580 | $22.79 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 490 | $50,820 | $52,440 | $33,690 | $67,410 | $24.43 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 480 | $58,510 | $56,000 | $39,310 | $71,310 | $28.13 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 480 | $57,140 | $56,130 | $38,800 | $64,570 | $27.47 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | 470 | $42,180 | $43,300 | $32,930 | $53,170 | $20.28 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 470 | $101,340 | $98,720 | $77,480 | $115,340 | $48.72 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 440 | $40,190 | $40,490 | $31,470 | $48,320 | $19.32 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 410 | $50,690 | $50,260 | $39,370 | $61,420 | $24.37 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 400 | * | * | * | * | * |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | 380 | $74,700 | $75,640 | $57,140 | $96,580 | $35.91 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 340 | $41,610 | $44,890 | $35,320 | $60,030 | $20.01 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | 320 | $88,550 | $87,950 | $69,420 | $111,960 | $42.57 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 320 | $112,340 | $119,010 | $96,480 | $146,220 | $54.01 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 300 | $63,060 | $65,270 | $47,620 | $95,180 | $30.32 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 290 | $41,600 | $44,190 | $31,470 | $63,450 | $20 |
| Upholsterers | 290 | $55,290 | $56,720 | $37,810 | $82,950 | $26.58 |
| Furniture Finishers | 280 | $37,460 | $49,170 | $34,430 | $84,990 | $18.01 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 260 | $39,240 | $40,380 | $31,470 | $54,470 | $18.87 |
| Gas Plant Operators | 230 | $104,960 | $101,420 | $52,010 | $124,200 | $50.46 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 230 | $55,810 | $56,130 | $40,620 | $79,250 | $26.83 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | 230 | $35,500 | $37,850 | $32,960 | $45,770 | $17.07 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 210 | $45,100 | $50,710 | $36,320 | $73,830 | $21.68 |
| Power Plant Operators | 210 | $109,970 | $106,940 | $80,970 | $123,670 | $52.87 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 200 | $50,700 | $53,320 | $35,680 | $67,250 | $24.38 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 160 | $47,170 | $49,310 | $39,430 | $64,440 | $22.68 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | 160 | $39,000 | $40,990 | $31,820 | $52,090 | $18.75 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 120 | $46,310 | $47,160 | $38,240 | $56,720 | $22.26 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 90 | $63,630 | $59,480 | $36,020 | $81,470 | $30.59 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | 90 | $41,250 | $49,320 | $35,360 | $73,430 | $19.83 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 90 | $41,860 | $44,110 | $33,620 | $65,500 | $20.13 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 80 | $38,390 | $40,270 | $31,470 | $58,670 | $18.46 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 70 | $48,510 | $48,920 | $34,050 | $60,660 | $23.32 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 70 | $42,110 | $41,910 | $35,850 | $48,570 | $20.25 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | 50 | $50,790 | $54,840 | $49,890 | $63,790 | $24.42 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 50 | $80,860 | $73,410 | $36,750 | $109,460 | $38.88 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 50 | $62,130 | $63,880 | $48,570 | $76,840 | $29.87 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | 40 | $43,000 | $43,460 | $39,150 | $45,650 | $20.67 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | ** | $53,700 | $53,580 | $38,880 | $64,260 | $25.82 |
| Etchers and Engravers | ** | $50,530 | $52,170 | $44,920 | $60,950 | $24.29 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | ** | $34,680 | $36,030 | $31,470 | $41,200 | $16.67 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | ** | $32,050 | $37,570 | $31,470 | $48,100 | $15.41 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | ** | $64,510 | $60,590 | $49,140 | $67,550 | $31.01 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | ** | $47,460 | $50,800 | $39,480 | $59,710 | $22.82 |
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=34&OCC_CODE=51-0000. the group row is AREA 34 / OCC_CODE 51-0000, and each table row is its own detailed record for this area, AREA 34 / OCC_CODE 51-xxxx. Reference period: May 2024. Fetched October 2026 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip.