Production Occupations in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania. These are estimates of jobs and wages, not job openings.
The group’s own figures in Pennsylvania
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupation group code | 51-0000 |
| Employment | 367,030 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 61.027 |
| Location quotient | 1.08 |
| Mean annual wage | $50,090 |
| Median annual wage | $46,790 |
| Mean hourly wage | $24.08 |
| Median hourly wage | $22.5 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $33,350 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $37,740 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $58,350 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $73,480 |
Detailed occupations in this group in Pennsylvania
Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this group in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | 10th percentile annual wage | 90th percentile annual wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 55,220 | $43,330 | $44,950 | $32,530 | $60,060 | $20.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 28,880 | $73,040 | $74,070 | $46,670 | $102,420 | $35.12 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 23,100 | $47,540 | $50,960 | $35,400 | $71,070 | $22.86 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 18,940 | $43,470 | $45,310 | $32,960 | $62,720 | $20.9 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 16,060 | $50,860 | $53,210 | $38,620 | $67,010 | $24.45 |
| Machinists | 15,060 | $52,560 | $54,810 | $37,520 | $75,240 | $25.27 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 12,600 | $43,180 | $44,590 | $35,820 | $58,200 | $20.76 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 10,960 | $39,370 | $43,490 | $34,810 | $56,030 | $18.93 |
| Bakers | 10,740 | $34,710 | $34,460 | $23,920 | $45,720 | $16.69 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 10,700 | $55,610 | $57,310 | $39,280 | $82,540 | $26.74 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 8,300 | $47,530 | $46,650 | $33,740 | $59,850 | $22.85 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 8,020 | $47,510 | $49,490 | $35,940 | $65,420 | $22.84 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 7,720 | $50,780 | $52,210 | $36,510 | $68,770 | $24.41 |
| Food Batchmakers | 7,460 | $40,330 | $42,310 | $27,790 | $58,430 | $19.39 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 6,890 | $46,300 | $46,120 | $31,820 | $59,710 | $22.26 |
| Printing Press Operators | 6,770 | $46,560 | $46,780 | $30,770 | $63,290 | $22.39 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 6,660 | $39,350 | $41,170 | $28,840 | $52,900 | $18.92 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 6,340 | $47,560 | $49,770 | $35,940 | $65,920 | $22.86 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 6,000 | $33,460 | $33,470 | $27,410 | $39,910 | $16.09 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 5,420 | $50,170 | $54,540 | $36,720 | $77,680 | $24.12 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 5,190 | $59,170 | $61,620 | $47,400 | $80,890 | $28.45 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 4,930 | $49,600 | $52,300 | $36,220 | $75,460 | $23.84 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | 4,510 | $36,310 | $35,580 | $27,820 | $43,850 | $17.46 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 4,280 | $45,550 | $47,530 | $35,880 | $61,960 | $21.9 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 4,050 | $37,490 | $40,730 | $28,590 | $57,240 | $18.02 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 3,880 | $45,320 | $46,640 | $35,360 | $62,020 | $21.79 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 3,700 | $36,450 | $37,290 | $30,840 | $44,500 | $17.53 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3,660 | $47,670 | $51,540 | $37,160 | $68,970 | $22.92 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 3,190 | $43,020 | $43,180 | $34,980 | $53,470 | $20.68 |
| Tool and Die Makers | 2,910 | $59,540 | $59,250 | $44,050 | $75,360 | $28.63 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,550 | $50,810 | $55,390 | $38,540 | $76,260 | $24.43 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 2,410 | $50,450 | $51,420 | $36,800 | $63,320 | $24.25 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 2,240 | $60,200 | $57,560 | $43,640 | $66,960 | $28.94 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,170 | $49,930 | $51,050 | $34,320 | $68,370 | $24.01 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 2,060 | $40,980 | $41,950 | $32,470 | $51,170 | $19.7 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 1,740 | $45,810 | $47,020 | $36,950 | $60,990 | $22.02 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,720 | $47,580 | $47,410 | $36,050 | $59,830 | $22.88 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 1,670 | $69,290 | $70,090 | $48,820 | $88,930 | $33.31 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 1,630 | $43,720 | $43,190 | $34,350 | $57,530 | $21.02 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 1,590 | $36,280 | $37,220 | $30,630 | $47,050 | $17.44 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,410 | $49,250 | $49,590 | $36,870 | $62,640 | $23.68 |
| Power Plant Operators | 1,380 | $85,260 | $87,100 | $56,270 | $115,550 | $40.99 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 1,350 | $38,570 | $41,390 | $33,380 | $52,870 | $18.54 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 1,280 | $43,100 | $44,660 | $36,810 | $57,720 | $20.72 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,260 | $42,920 | $44,140 | $31,430 | $57,730 | $20.63 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 1,200 | $42,920 | $44,290 | $37,440 | $49,480 | $20.63 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | 1,140 | $78,570 | $76,720 | $38,680 | $108,770 | $37.77 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,120 | $49,050 | $50,110 | $38,630 | $61,560 | $23.58 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | 1,100 | $49,750 | $54,380 | $34,820 | $81,970 | $23.92 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 1,050 | $39,210 | $39,720 | $31,180 | $46,650 | $18.85 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 1,030 | $87,390 | $83,880 | $59,670 | $102,340 | $42.01 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,030 | $46,530 | $48,150 | $36,750 | $63,090 | $22.37 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 920 | $61,990 | $65,040 | $47,620 | $84,160 | $29.8 |
| Furniture Finishers | 850 | $42,090 | $43,750 | $30,570 | $57,640 | $20.24 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 800 | $49,220 | $51,680 | $39,180 | $64,860 | $23.66 |
| Gas Plant Operators | 780 | $76,070 | $75,180 | $58,950 | $88,010 | $36.57 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 760 | $58,910 | $56,620 | $41,880 | $69,270 | $28.32 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | 750 | $75,660 | $73,490 | $50,880 | $84,440 | $36.38 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 730 | $46,990 | $48,240 | $33,700 | $66,240 | $22.59 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 690 | $98,870 | $95,300 | $70,010 | $115,950 | $47.54 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | 680 | $44,060 | $45,410 | $36,410 | $56,120 | $21.18 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 600 | $51,590 | $49,570 | $39,360 | $56,310 | $24.8 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 590 | $30,180 | $31,070 | $24,340 | $36,870 | $14.51 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 570 | $42,040 | $43,810 | $31,300 | $57,160 | $20.21 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 530 | $49,590 | $52,990 | $40,810 | $69,890 | $23.84 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 530 | $50,160 | $50,950 | $34,460 | $65,120 | $24.11 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | 510 | $52,270 | $59,140 | $48,190 | $77,770 | $25.13 |
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 500 | $47,840 | $62,680 | $37,730 | $105,550 | $23 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 500 | $49,250 | $42,830 | $26,000 | $55,910 | $23.68 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | 480 | $45,300 | $46,250 | $32,790 | $64,440 | $21.78 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 460 | $47,750 | $48,610 | $34,710 | $61,770 | $22.96 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 450 | $48,080 | $49,230 | $34,500 | $64,590 | $23.12 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 450 | $37,940 | $40,240 | $30,500 | $52,540 | $18.24 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 450 | $37,610 | $37,190 | $27,680 | $49,300 | $18.08 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 410 | $49,030 | $53,090 | $40,970 | $70,570 | $23.57 |
| Upholsterers | 410 | $39,150 | $41,320 | $28,830 | $58,060 | $18.82 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 390 | $33,530 | $37,680 | $28,260 | $54,340 | $16.12 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 380 | $51,460 | $57,760 | $39,860 | $96,700 | $24.74 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 360 | $41,600 | $44,940 | $33,160 | $55,140 | $20 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | 350 | $36,130 | $37,580 | $29,890 | $47,730 | $17.37 |
| Tire Builders | 330 | $43,810 | $43,150 | $35,500 | $48,630 | $21.06 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 330 | $42,680 | $43,330 | $28,760 | $60,490 | $20.52 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technicians | 300 | $43,480 | $47,820 | $39,090 | $60,090 | $20.9 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 290 | $39,430 | $40,900 | $30,180 | $51,580 | $18.96 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 260 | $48,200 | $51,070 | $39,350 | $63,610 | $23.17 |
| Etchers and Engravers | 230 | $45,890 | $45,210 | $37,870 | $50,730 | $22.06 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 220 | $35,510 | $34,510 | $23,650 | $41,470 | $17.07 |
| Sewers, Hand | 220 | $32,790 | $33,240 | $28,970 | $36,080 | $15.76 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 210 | $36,890 | $38,700 | $27,320 | $54,100 | $17.74 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | 190 | $33,960 | $38,750 | $29,020 | $64,980 | $16.33 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 170 | $47,410 | $54,290 | $37,140 | $82,210 | $22.8 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 170 | $52,000 | $57,060 | $38,420 | $92,580 | $25 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 160 | $58,200 | $54,030 | $36,400 | $63,960 | $27.98 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | 120 | $41,620 | $43,750 | $28,650 | $60,040 | $20.01 |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 100 | $59,450 | $57,380 | $47,330 | $68,420 | $28.58 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | 70 | $32,280 | $40,710 | $25,980 | $53,180 | $15.52 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 50 | $55,850 | $57,170 | $32,500 | $73,590 | $26.85 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | 50 | * | * | * | * | * |
| Patternmakers, Wood | 50 | $54,170 | $58,320 | $49,910 | $79,440 | $26.04 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 50 | $61,690 | $57,320 | $34,340 | $67,910 | $29.66 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | ** | $35,460 | $39,310 | $32,950 | $49,150 | $17.05 |
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=42&OCC_CODE=51-0000. the group row is AREA 42 / OCC_CODE 51-0000, and each table row is its own detailed record for this area, AREA 42 / OCC_CODE 51-xxxx. Reference period: May 2024. Fetched October 2026 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip.