Production Occupations in South 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 South Carolina. These are estimates of jobs and wages, not job openings.
The group’s own figures in South Carolina
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupation group code | 51-0000 |
| Employment | 188,920 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 83.16 |
| Location quotient | 1.47 |
| Mean annual wage | $48,530 |
| Median annual wage | $45,020 |
| Mean hourly wage | $23.33 |
| Median hourly wage | $21.65 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $31,860 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $37,190 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $57,040 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $68,000 |
Detailed occupations in this group in South Carolina
Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this group in South 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 South Carolina.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | 10th percentile annual wage | 90th percentile annual wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 47,370 | $42,350 | $44,970 | $31,860 | $68,000 | $20.36 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 14,900 | $44,840 | $47,890 | $31,610 | $68,570 | $21.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 13,540 | $74,950 | $76,100 | $48,190 | $106,060 | $36.04 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 7,600 | $49,120 | $50,900 | $38,300 | $66,160 | $23.61 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 5,910 | $37,870 | $39,900 | $31,200 | $49,330 | $18.21 |
| Machinists | 4,530 | $53,040 | $54,360 | $34,170 | $71,450 | $25.5 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 4,020 | $38,070 | $41,380 | $30,720 | $55,320 | $18.3 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 4,000 | $45,500 | $48,450 | $33,480 | $66,470 | $21.88 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 3,820 | $42,440 | $44,210 | $34,560 | $56,180 | $20.4 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 3,710 | $56,580 | $56,860 | $39,470 | $74,640 | $27.2 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 3,650 | $51,720 | $55,870 | $37,500 | $79,130 | $24.87 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3,620 | $42,390 | $44,970 | $35,280 | $60,450 | $20.38 |
| Bakers | 2,990 | $34,590 | $34,160 | $23,380 | $46,260 | $16.63 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 2,970 | $33,690 | $35,070 | $33,320 | $38,120 | $16.2 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 2,950 | $49,830 | $50,540 | $36,190 | $65,850 | $23.96 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,930 | $46,850 | $51,620 | $34,910 | $75,880 | $22.52 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,860 | $49,870 | $50,980 | $36,100 | $66,470 | $23.98 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2,800 | $40,930 | $44,760 | $31,820 | $61,300 | $19.68 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 2,800 | $49,480 | $52,820 | $36,030 | $72,430 | $23.79 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 2,750 | $29,350 | $30,020 | $21,860 | $37,420 | $14.11 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2,310 | $50,750 | $51,560 | $38,280 | $64,620 | $24.4 |
| Printing Press Operators | 2,160 | $38,080 | $40,650 | $27,240 | $59,790 | $18.31 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 2,070 | $42,920 | $44,710 | $35,590 | $61,680 | $20.63 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 2,030 | $39,580 | $39,850 | $28,810 | $48,030 | $19.03 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2,020 | $48,210 | $49,130 | $37,810 | $62,100 | $23.18 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 1,990 | $36,120 | $35,730 | $19,570 | $49,180 | $17.36 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,840 | $38,780 | $38,890 | $31,990 | $44,800 | $18.65 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,830 | $39,680 | $41,440 | $32,420 | $50,410 | $19.08 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | 1,630 | $34,640 | $33,900 | $23,830 | $43,370 | $16.65 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,560 | $49,730 | $49,590 | $37,110 | $64,050 | $23.91 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 1,500 | $40,190 | $40,300 | $28,170 | $54,120 | $19.32 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 1,400 | $49,910 | $50,740 | $39,110 | $65,320 | $24 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,030 | $46,450 | $46,810 | $36,220 | $61,850 | $22.33 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 940 | $40,210 | $41,630 | $30,290 | $50,760 | $19.33 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 890 | $49,620 | $50,850 | $39,360 | $65,000 | $23.86 |
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 870 | $43,430 | $44,570 | $30,630 | $60,160 | $20.88 |
| Power Plant Operators | 850 | $78,580 | $81,550 | $61,380 | $99,750 | $37.78 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 840 | $46,890 | $46,720 | $32,480 | $62,570 | $22.54 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | 790 | $42,330 | $41,830 | $31,620 | $51,560 | $20.35 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 740 | $41,670 | $43,850 | $33,810 | $60,470 | $20.03 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 730 | $45,730 | $46,410 | $37,620 | $61,990 | $21.99 |
| Tool and Die Makers | 720 | $66,300 | $66,940 | $50,720 | $80,860 | $31.88 |
| Food Batchmakers | 700 | $35,870 | $37,590 | $27,410 | $50,600 | $17.24 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | 620 | $40,820 | $39,720 | $31,400 | $46,490 | $19.62 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 580 | $40,110 | $44,300 | $33,830 | $52,290 | $19.28 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 560 | $36,870 | $37,730 | $36,730 | $44,560 | $17.73 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 550 | $34,100 | $33,160 | $18,660 | $57,060 | $16.39 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 530 | $47,770 | $47,920 | $31,060 | $65,740 | $22.97 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | 480 | $61,100 | $59,140 | $45,380 | $72,560 | $29.37 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 470 | $42,730 | $45,450 | $31,820 | $65,160 | $20.54 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 460 | $45,310 | $46,130 | $37,340 | $58,550 | $21.79 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 440 | $37,400 | $41,180 | $31,450 | $56,250 | $17.98 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 440 | $40,560 | $41,650 | $29,760 | $50,980 | $19.5 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 420 | $46,420 | $46,900 | $36,570 | $58,290 | $22.32 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 410 | $37,390 | $37,380 | $31,700 | $42,280 | $17.98 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | 360 | $39,980 | $41,910 | $31,590 | $55,300 | $19.22 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | 330 | $39,920 | $45,400 | $28,260 | $79,830 | $19.19 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 330 | $28,330 | $27,320 | $18,800 | $34,040 | $13.62 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 320 | $43,650 | $47,510 | $31,970 | $63,170 | $20.99 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | 320 | $112,070 | $115,160 | $83,190 | $146,340 | $53.88 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 290 | $39,780 | $45,160 | $35,070 | $68,710 | $19.13 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 280 | $40,790 | $43,280 | $30,550 | $54,380 | $19.61 |
| Gas Plant Operators | 270 | $81,000 | $71,110 | $43,610 | $88,350 | $38.94 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 260 | $59,450 | $59,270 | $39,130 | $77,670 | $28.58 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 250 | $64,000 | $73,380 | $51,410 | $84,900 | $30.77 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 250 | $38,850 | $38,630 | $27,100 | $46,880 | $18.68 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 250 | $45,640 | $46,010 | $35,240 | $61,490 | $21.94 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 240 | $44,800 | $43,400 | $29,570 | $57,310 | $21.54 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 220 | $42,760 | $43,020 | $29,710 | $50,800 | $20.56 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 190 | $51,100 | $50,530 | $33,950 | $63,080 | $24.57 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 180 | $44,980 | $46,400 | $33,330 | $63,140 | $21.63 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 180 | $39,680 | $46,060 | $36,780 | $67,160 | $19.08 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 170 | $50,270 | $51,190 | $39,590 | $63,610 | $24.17 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 170 | $46,710 | $51,570 | $36,130 | $75,250 | $22.46 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 160 | $36,800 | $41,530 | $34,510 | $50,670 | $17.69 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 160 | $43,920 | $44,260 | $35,360 | $57,350 | $21.12 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | 150 | $54,140 | $57,950 | $46,030 | $75,170 | $26.03 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 140 | $35,070 | $37,110 | $33,930 | $40,710 | $16.86 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 140 | $38,570 | $42,780 | $27,530 | $70,660 | $18.55 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 130 | $48,320 | $48,240 | $33,720 | $62,050 | $23.23 |
| Furniture Finishers | 120 | $40,650 | $41,280 | $32,970 | $51,740 | $19.54 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 110 | $50,030 | $51,820 | $39,880 | $72,060 | $24.06 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | 100 | $38,740 | $40,740 | $32,790 | $58,600 | $18.63 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 100 | $85,380 | $88,410 | $64,360 | $104,070 | $41.05 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 90 | $68,920 | $66,920 | $25,150 | $95,750 | $33.13 |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 80 | $38,810 | $41,730 | $29,050 | $57,220 | $18.66 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 60 | $50,400 | $52,160 | $32,390 | $66,260 | $24.23 |
| Etchers and Engravers | 50 | $39,520 | $40,340 | $19,080 | $57,520 | $19 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 40 | $39,680 | $41,650 | $32,770 | $56,340 | $19.08 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | ** | $28,860 | $27,920 | $19,450 | $36,890 | $13.88 |
| Upholsterers | ** | $46,040 | $43,510 | $31,880 | $52,520 | $22.14 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | ** | $38,830 | $40,140 | $36,790 | $42,900 | $18.67 |
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=45&OCC_CODE=51-0000. the group row is AREA 45 / OCC_CODE 51-0000, and each table row is its own detailed record for this area, AREA 45 / OCC_CODE 51-xxxx. Reference period: May 2024. Fetched October 2026 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip.