Production Occupations in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina. These are estimates of jobs and wages, not job openings.
The group’s own figures in North Carolina
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupation group code | 51-0000 |
| Employment | 321,410 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 65.616 |
| Location quotient | 1.16 |
| Mean annual wage | $46,180 |
| Median annual wage | $42,460 |
| Mean hourly wage | $22.2 |
| Median hourly wage | $20.41 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $29,900 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $35,860 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $52,480 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $65,220 |
Detailed occupations in this group in North Carolina
Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this group in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | 10th percentile annual wage | 90th percentile annual wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 50,970 | $39,620 | $42,160 | $29,710 | $59,390 | $19.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 22,650 | $66,640 | $70,240 | $43,770 | $99,740 | $32.04 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 19,830 | $44,020 | $46,520 | $30,830 | $65,330 | $21.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 17,760 | $37,200 | $40,360 | $28,050 | $58,420 | $17.88 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 13,460 | $40,640 | $43,800 | $31,450 | $59,510 | $19.54 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 12,020 | $49,860 | $53,340 | $38,800 | $70,500 | $23.97 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 9,420 | $36,650 | $35,610 | $28,560 | $40,920 | $17.62 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | 8,580 | $35,170 | $36,250 | $23,550 | $49,470 | $16.91 |
| Machinists | 8,310 | $55,520 | $54,220 | $36,970 | $72,770 | $26.69 |
| Bakers | 7,540 | $34,430 | $34,460 | $23,490 | $46,170 | $16.55 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 7,410 | $41,550 | $43,620 | $33,220 | $58,680 | $19.98 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 7,160 | $41,870 | $43,320 | $31,880 | $55,640 | $20.13 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 5,810 | $46,970 | $48,960 | $34,600 | $66,440 | $22.58 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 5,750 | $39,790 | $40,240 | $30,500 | $49,840 | $19.13 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 5,530 | $30,120 | $30,730 | $23,830 | $36,700 | $14.48 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 5,370 | $37,540 | $38,580 | $29,600 | $49,000 | $18.05 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 5,010 | $47,600 | $46,510 | $33,720 | $61,780 | $22.89 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 4,440 | $36,080 | $36,540 | $27,760 | $43,020 | $17.35 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 4,410 | $35,910 | $35,800 | $29,650 | $44,250 | $17.27 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 4,370 | $51,930 | $51,380 | $37,530 | $61,320 | $24.97 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 4,020 | $46,220 | $47,310 | $35,280 | $61,140 | $22.22 |
| Printing Press Operators | 3,950 | $43,090 | $44,680 | $29,650 | $62,070 | $20.72 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3,940 | $42,330 | $45,050 | $31,760 | $63,650 | $20.35 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 3,870 | $52,740 | $56,620 | $37,900 | $82,920 | $25.36 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 3,870 | $37,350 | $38,690 | $29,470 | $47,970 | $17.96 |
| Upholsterers | 3,860 | $50,140 | $52,410 | $35,970 | $71,060 | $24.11 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 3,800 | $37,020 | $37,680 | $26,610 | $48,150 | $17.8 |
| Tire Builders | 3,490 | $62,360 | $60,990 | $49,390 | $77,290 | $29.98 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 3,420 | $49,710 | $52,800 | $37,460 | $70,750 | $23.9 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3,200 | $46,490 | $48,620 | $35,550 | $65,540 | $22.35 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 3,200 | $36,520 | $36,860 | $28,770 | $46,320 | $17.56 |
| Food Batchmakers | 3,150 | $39,320 | $40,700 | $28,850 | $55,480 | $18.9 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,950 | $43,140 | $43,630 | $32,180 | $60,000 | $20.74 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,680 | $46,210 | $49,540 | $36,140 | $69,110 | $22.22 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 2,560 | $53,380 | $55,640 | $41,610 | $76,610 | $25.66 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 2,530 | $44,660 | $45,730 | $34,770 | $59,450 | $21.47 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 2,420 | $42,680 | $43,870 | $32,300 | $54,980 | $20.52 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 2,290 | $36,060 | $39,540 | $27,480 | $51,950 | $17.34 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | 1,940 | $36,760 | $38,860 | $28,760 | $50,010 | $17.67 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,820 | $47,470 | $46,890 | $34,660 | $58,560 | $22.82 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 1,670 | $75,560 | $72,470 | $47,480 | $106,390 | $36.33 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,590 | $46,090 | $50,310 | $35,940 | $69,520 | $22.16 |
| Tool and Die Makers | 1,480 | $61,130 | $61,390 | $43,890 | $79,640 | $29.39 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 1,330 | $48,780 | $49,690 | $34,510 | $64,540 | $23.45 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 1,200 | $34,460 | $35,300 | $23,760 | $48,930 | $16.57 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | 1,130 | $56,630 | $57,510 | $46,300 | $69,020 | $27.22 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | 1,120 | $33,980 | $35,660 | $29,210 | $44,370 | $16.34 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 1,040 | $40,340 | $42,180 | $30,960 | $53,940 | $19.39 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 980 | $38,850 | $40,930 | $28,750 | $54,840 | $18.68 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 960 | $45,910 | $46,120 | $31,450 | $60,630 | $22.07 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 950 | $60,880 | $63,720 | $43,060 | $88,580 | $29.27 |
| Furniture Finishers | 880 | $39,100 | $42,410 | $32,970 | $57,720 | $18.8 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | 860 | $49,460 | $51,620 | $35,320 | $75,850 | $23.78 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 810 | $46,660 | $47,980 | $35,720 | $63,990 | $22.43 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 770 | $41,270 | $41,180 | $27,960 | $53,980 | $19.84 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 760 | $51,810 | $52,850 | $34,110 | $75,590 | $24.91 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 710 | $39,090 | $41,930 | $30,320 | $51,960 | $18.79 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 710 | $30,050 | $30,620 | $23,470 | $37,190 | $14.45 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 700 | $43,380 | $45,650 | $34,610 | $59,940 | $20.85 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | 660 | $51,440 | $55,620 | $49,190 | $67,860 | $24.73 |
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 640 | $39,870 | $45,700 | $31,770 | $64,350 | $19.17 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 580 | $37,440 | $38,860 | $29,800 | $44,980 | $18 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 550 | $48,350 | $52,500 | $37,920 | $75,930 | $23.25 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 540 | $49,210 | $49,150 | $35,940 | $60,410 | $23.66 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 530 | $37,730 | $39,510 | $29,960 | $59,820 | $18.14 |
| Power Plant Operators | 500 | $99,290 | $98,000 | $59,220 | $127,900 | $47.74 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 490 | $41,850 | $43,960 | $35,750 | $55,830 | $20.12 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 480 | $35,490 | $38,880 | $27,020 | $49,650 | $17.06 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 460 | $50,580 | $51,490 | $37,640 | $61,170 | $24.32 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | 460 | $33,590 | $38,120 | $30,930 | $50,300 | $16.15 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 440 | $37,750 | $40,340 | $29,040 | $56,040 | $18.15 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 440 | $51,130 | $52,470 | $35,080 | $74,320 | $24.58 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 430 | $48,280 | $51,330 | $23,550 | $72,520 | $23.21 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 430 | $43,330 | $48,280 | $34,930 | $71,780 | $20.83 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 420 | $36,120 | $41,190 | $29,790 | $58,920 | $17.37 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 410 | $46,750 | $47,520 | $36,660 | $59,100 | $22.48 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | 390 | $37,660 | $41,180 | $34,310 | $61,370 | $18.1 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 350 | $43,580 | $45,240 | $34,950 | $57,920 | $20.95 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | 340 | $107,200 | $113,850 | $89,000 | $139,850 | $51.54 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 310 | $45,780 | $44,890 | $33,290 | $61,170 | $22.01 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 290 | $58,280 | $57,170 | $35,770 | $79,390 | $28.02 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | 270 | $37,640 | $40,010 | $29,940 | $48,090 | $18.1 |
| Gas Plant Operators | 270 | $75,140 | $77,170 | $59,490 | $103,990 | $36.13 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 260 | $49,980 | $50,710 | $29,440 | $75,560 | $24.03 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 240 | $87,420 | $88,060 | $58,010 | $109,070 | $42.03 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 230 | $43,720 | $44,610 | $35,710 | $53,930 | $21.02 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 200 | $45,080 | $46,480 | $31,720 | $59,910 | $21.67 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | 180 | $61,280 | $64,320 | $48,030 | $77,110 | $29.46 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | 170 | $37,710 | $38,180 | $30,990 | $49,160 | $18.13 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 170 | $44,230 | $46,280 | $29,510 | $68,390 | $21.27 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 130 | $72,090 | $73,400 | $49,470 | $94,650 | $34.66 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technicians | 100 | $47,320 | $52,320 | $35,620 | $81,140 | $22.75 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 90 | $47,640 | $50,450 | $37,990 | $71,980 | $22.91 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 80 | $49,040 | $46,270 | $36,680 | $62,030 | $23.58 |
| Etchers and Engravers | 70 | $38,350 | $37,250 | $23,940 | $43,670 | $18.44 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | 70 | $46,680 | $51,580 | $37,590 | $66,130 | $22.44 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 70 | $37,970 | $43,260 | $31,000 | $59,720 | $18.25 |
| Sewers, Hand | 60 | $33,310 | $31,970 | $26,300 | $36,300 | $16.01 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | 50 | $58,640 | $56,340 | $43,710 | $64,200 | $28.19 |
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=37&OCC_CODE=51-0000. the group row is AREA 37 / OCC_CODE 51-0000, and each table row is its own detailed record for this area, AREA 37 / OCC_CODE 51-xxxx. Reference period: May 2024. Fetched October 2026 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip.