Production Occupations in Virginia, 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 Virginia. These are estimates of jobs and wages, not job openings.
The group’s own figures in Virginia
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupation group code | 51-0000 |
| Employment | 160,020 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 39.368 |
| Location quotient | 0.69 |
| Mean annual wage | $49,710 |
| Median annual wage | $45,860 |
| Mean hourly wage | $23.9 |
| Median hourly wage | $22.05 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $36,530 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $59,280 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $73,920 |
Detailed occupations in this group in Virginia
Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this group in Virginia, 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 Virginia.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | 10th percentile annual wage | 90th percentile annual wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 20,940 | $40,450 | $43,640 | $31,230 | $60,590 | $19.45 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 13,100 | $72,330 | $74,420 | $41,930 | $106,610 | $34.78 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 10,690 | $57,350 | $58,250 | $39,660 | $78,000 | $27.57 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 10,020 | $47,980 | $51,590 | $35,200 | $73,320 | $23.07 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 6,890 | $46,230 | $47,680 | $30,770 | $63,370 | $22.23 |
| Machinists | 6,140 | $60,920 | $62,000 | $44,340 | $85,030 | $29.29 |
| Bakers | 5,670 | $32,970 | $34,410 | $27,640 | $43,870 | $15.85 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 5,370 | $36,150 | $41,360 | $32,840 | $58,190 | $17.38 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 4,900 | $30,920 | $32,260 | $25,310 | $38,050 | $14.87 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 4,840 | $41,360 | $43,240 | $33,530 | $55,530 | $19.89 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 4,310 | $50,060 | $53,040 | $35,930 | $63,870 | $24.07 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 3,450 | $36,380 | $37,990 | $30,700 | $46,790 | $17.49 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 3,390 | $58,920 | $58,960 | $38,480 | $79,180 | $28.33 |
| Printing Press Operators | 2,780 | $42,790 | $46,210 | $30,740 | $64,990 | $20.57 |
| Food Batchmakers | 2,720 | $39,660 | $42,170 | $29,430 | $57,670 | $19.07 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 2,440 | $35,420 | $35,310 | $27,480 | $41,750 | $17.03 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,310 | $49,110 | $52,210 | $37,810 | $79,140 | $23.61 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 2,120 | $39,170 | $42,630 | $31,480 | $57,970 | $18.83 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2,090 | $45,850 | $45,460 | $34,510 | $56,020 | $22.04 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,000 | $50,270 | $51,890 | $37,300 | $64,120 | $24.17 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 1,880 | $47,570 | $47,460 | $31,320 | $60,740 | $22.87 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 1,880 | $36,810 | $37,530 | $33,690 | $42,180 | $17.7 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 1,770 | $45,260 | $46,260 | $30,310 | $64,740 | $21.76 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 1,730 | $35,730 | $38,240 | $30,050 | $48,560 | $17.18 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | 1,690 | $33,280 | $34,700 | $26,610 | $45,800 | $16 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,680 | $48,980 | $49,630 | $35,360 | $66,080 | $23.55 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 1,670 | $57,250 | $57,370 | $43,350 | $75,270 | $27.52 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 1,580 | $37,030 | $39,570 | $30,730 | $48,710 | $17.8 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,550 | $40,690 | $44,220 | $36,650 | $55,940 | $19.56 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 1,150 | $51,640 | $54,740 | $40,580 | $71,420 | $24.83 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,130 | $45,620 | $45,420 | $29,120 | $61,290 | $21.93 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,130 | $49,650 | $54,850 | $34,340 | $76,930 | $23.87 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,120 | $48,260 | $49,560 | $36,770 | $60,490 | $23.2 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,030 | $47,260 | $48,960 | $38,140 | $62,290 | $22.72 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | 1,020 | $48,510 | $58,410 | $35,270 | $79,680 | $23.32 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 980 | $44,080 | $45,150 | $33,690 | $59,230 | $21.19 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 970 | $43,630 | $44,340 | $28,420 | $60,200 | $20.98 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 830 | $39,760 | $42,840 | $35,650 | $53,660 | $19.11 |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 790 | $72,780 | $76,640 | $54,160 | $98,290 | $34.99 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 770 | $34,890 | $38,110 | $32,420 | $55,900 | $16.77 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 730 | $36,860 | $37,730 | $30,720 | $47,220 | $17.72 |
| Power Plant Operators | 730 | $78,460 | $79,000 | $52,200 | $105,420 | $37.72 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 640 | $43,680 | $45,240 | $33,660 | $59,640 | $21 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 620 | $36,490 | $36,540 | $35,970 | $39,380 | $17.55 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 600 | $46,300 | $47,950 | $37,460 | $60,150 | $22.26 |
| Tire Builders | 590 | $66,530 | $61,640 | $57,040 | $69,120 | $31.98 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 550 | $45,330 | $44,160 | $33,470 | $52,350 | $21.79 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 510 | $47,310 | $48,170 | $37,820 | $60,570 | $22.74 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 490 | $43,690 | $50,090 | $30,160 | $80,500 | $21.01 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 470 | $38,920 | $42,920 | $29,750 | $63,480 | $18.71 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 460 | $47,730 | $49,730 | $34,520 | $63,810 | $22.95 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 450 | $35,110 | $37,600 | $27,590 | $49,450 | $16.88 |
| Tool and Die Makers | 450 | $60,800 | $56,870 | $34,100 | $77,010 | $29.23 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 420 | $65,390 | $67,690 | $45,550 | $94,590 | $31.44 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 410 | $41,280 | $41,970 | $30,690 | $57,050 | $19.85 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 410 | $38,080 | $42,080 | $32,580 | $59,630 | $18.31 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 410 | $38,570 | $38,670 | $28,840 | $46,470 | $18.54 |
| Upholsterers | 360 | $39,310 | $40,470 | $30,650 | $55,420 | $18.9 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 350 | $60,940 | $64,130 | $37,850 | $94,700 | $29.3 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 340 | $64,970 | $66,460 | $43,290 | $93,520 | $31.24 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 330 | $60,850 | $57,250 | $40,260 | $63,610 | $29.25 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 320 | $40,280 | $42,770 | $33,250 | $52,440 | $19.37 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 310 | $53,050 | $51,730 | $40,490 | $64,640 | $25.5 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 300 | $28,790 | $31,410 | $27,630 | $39,570 | $13.84 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 280 | $64,510 | $55,500 | $34,630 | $67,770 | $31.01 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | 270 | $57,740 | $62,310 | $42,820 | $86,130 | $27.76 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 260 | $46,190 | $46,570 | $31,090 | $63,440 | $22.21 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | 260 | $37,450 | $42,760 | $26,790 | $68,520 | $18 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 250 | $47,900 | $46,220 | $34,840 | $53,510 | $23.03 |
| Etchers and Engravers | 250 | $37,820 | $42,070 | $30,570 | $63,780 | $18.18 |
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 250 | $46,990 | $48,290 | $31,400 | $63,810 | $22.59 |
| Furniture Finishers | 220 | $36,710 | $39,190 | $30,920 | $49,660 | $17.65 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 220 | $37,940 | $39,800 | $35,730 | $47,580 | $18.24 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 210 | $100,830 | $97,000 | $72,780 | $117,810 | $48.48 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technicians | 200 | * | * | * | * | * |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 190 | $43,910 | $56,470 | $38,100 | $80,220 | $21.11 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | 140 | $55,900 | $54,230 | $29,220 | $72,160 | $26.87 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | 140 | $38,460 | $40,480 | $32,610 | $50,160 | $18.49 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 140 | $48,680 | $50,820 | $37,260 | $81,090 | $23.4 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 130 | $50,240 | $52,530 | $44,460 | $62,790 | $24.15 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | 130 | $36,430 | $39,890 | $30,890 | $57,390 | $17.51 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 120 | $34,310 | $38,340 | $28,900 | $57,200 | $16.5 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 110 | $46,850 | $51,550 | $38,860 | $69,210 | $22.53 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 110 | $46,380 | $50,600 | $38,450 | $68,850 | $22.3 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 100 | $46,120 | $51,020 | $38,160 | $72,230 | $22.17 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 100 | $80,650 | $83,170 | $57,800 | $117,190 | $38.78 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | 100 | $38,630 | $40,380 | $27,810 | $52,680 | $18.57 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 80 | $36,520 | $41,060 | $27,600 | $77,060 | $17.56 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 60 | $32,090 | $35,430 | $28,700 | $46,180 | $15.43 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | 60 | $45,480 | $46,590 | $36,870 | $63,290 | $21.86 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 50 | $43,010 | $47,860 | $36,210 | $62,720 | $20.68 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | 40 | $52,420 | $58,740 | $45,910 | $74,360 | $25.2 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 40 | $49,180 | $48,170 | $40,200 | $58,750 | $23.64 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 40 | $59,630 | $57,780 | $46,020 | $68,140 | $28.67 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | ** | $61,950 | $61,890 | $36,140 | $82,140 | $29.78 |
| Gas Plant Operators | ** | $78,780 | $74,090 | $37,350 | $99,550 | $37.87 |
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=51&OCC_CODE=51-0000. the group row is AREA 51 / OCC_CODE 51-0000, and each table row is its own detailed record for this area, AREA 51 / OCC_CODE 51-xxxx. Reference period: May 2024. Fetched October 2026 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip.