Production Occupations in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin. These are estimates of jobs and wages, not job openings.
The group’s own figures in Wisconsin
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupation group code | 51-0000 |
| Employment | 308,310 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 105.462 |
| Location quotient | 1.86 |
| Mean annual wage | $50,740 |
| Median annual wage | $48,040 |
| Mean hourly wage | $24.4 |
| Median hourly wage | $23.1 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $35,950 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $39,940 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $58,490 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $68,500 |
Detailed occupations in this group in Wisconsin
Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this group in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | 10th percentile annual wage | 90th percentile annual wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 47,880 | $45,020 | $45,280 | $35,490 | $58,170 | $21.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 25,660 | $74,110 | $74,380 | $50,000 | $99,440 | $35.63 |
| Food Batchmakers | 18,610 | $46,760 | $46,790 | $36,460 | $58,280 | $22.48 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 17,750 | $49,020 | $51,720 | $37,230 | $66,220 | $23.57 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 16,820 | $55,630 | $55,660 | $46,270 | $64,960 | $26.74 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 16,500 | $44,170 | $44,480 | $33,860 | $57,190 | $21.23 |
| Machinists | 12,530 | $52,030 | $54,280 | $37,560 | $71,660 | $25.02 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 10,760 | $55,550 | $55,530 | $40,590 | $70,760 | $26.71 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 10,310 | $45,470 | $45,410 | $35,060 | $58,400 | $21.86 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 9,320 | $44,360 | $45,660 | $35,350 | $59,890 | $21.33 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 9,110 | $48,730 | $49,280 | $37,510 | $61,900 | $23.43 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 8,040 | $48,100 | $49,330 | $38,530 | $61,500 | $23.13 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 6,970 | $40,770 | $42,250 | $31,460 | $56,090 | $19.6 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 6,930 | $57,760 | $55,430 | $41,500 | $70,260 | $27.77 |
| Printing Press Operators | 6,480 | $47,970 | $49,890 | $36,090 | $64,520 | $23.06 |
| Bakers | 4,360 | $36,620 | $37,590 | $29,040 | $48,530 | $17.61 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 4,300 | $43,690 | $43,400 | $31,030 | $57,460 | $21.01 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 4,280 | $46,680 | $51,000 | $37,760 | $68,500 | $22.44 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 3,520 | $53,600 | $54,510 | $38,750 | $73,400 | $25.77 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3,430 | $46,570 | $47,010 | $35,430 | $59,990 | $22.39 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 3,360 | $34,760 | $33,830 | $28,140 | $40,370 | $16.71 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 3,320 | $41,140 | $42,770 | $29,630 | $57,000 | $19.78 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 3,160 | $40,190 | $42,080 | $34,370 | $54,990 | $19.32 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 3,090 | $41,400 | $42,790 | $35,240 | $50,850 | $19.9 |
| Tool and Die Makers | 2,970 | $65,850 | $65,570 | $42,440 | $81,310 | $31.66 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 2,920 | $54,640 | $54,230 | $40,970 | $65,760 | $26.27 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2,890 | $48,840 | $51,000 | $39,100 | $63,980 | $23.48 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 2,730 | $49,150 | $52,300 | $37,670 | $69,310 | $23.63 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 2,640 | $56,400 | $57,030 | $50,150 | $61,120 | $27.12 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | 2,440 | $38,940 | $39,900 | $29,950 | $48,880 | $18.72 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 2,400 | $36,620 | $36,280 | $27,570 | $50,010 | $17.6 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 2,110 | $62,360 | $62,420 | $49,410 | $76,560 | $29.98 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 1,900 | $46,150 | $46,450 | $36,540 | $59,360 | $22.19 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,620 | $50,750 | $50,340 | $38,190 | $62,430 | $24.4 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 1,590 | $43,190 | $43,690 | $35,260 | $54,520 | $20.76 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,580 | $61,790 | $60,490 | $39,820 | $74,330 | $29.71 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,510 | $41,020 | $45,350 | $35,870 | $64,990 | $19.72 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 1,490 | $64,500 | $66,880 | $53,750 | $78,740 | $31.01 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 1,420 | $46,600 | $47,930 | $35,460 | $62,470 | $22.4 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,210 | $48,170 | $50,890 | $40,150 | $61,760 | $23.16 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 1,050 | $40,360 | $44,680 | $37,840 | $58,390 | $19.4 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 920 | $38,270 | $38,590 | $27,040 | $48,910 | $18.4 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 910 | $44,420 | $44,830 | $31,490 | $62,970 | $21.36 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 890 | $39,380 | $43,100 | $28,260 | $60,210 | $18.93 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | 810 | $47,250 | $51,130 | $37,070 | $68,770 | $22.72 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 790 | $45,870 | $46,350 | $33,630 | $58,530 | $22.06 |
| Power Plant Operators | 660 | $81,250 | $86,680 | $56,790 | $120,040 | $39.06 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 630 | $35,250 | $35,950 | $29,890 | $43,800 | $16.95 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 610 | $49,160 | $48,430 | $36,140 | $59,120 | $23.63 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 590 | $47,980 | $50,960 | $36,310 | $69,630 | $23.07 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 540 | $48,710 | $49,780 | $40,530 | $57,830 | $23.42 |
| Etchers and Engravers | 520 | $42,070 | $45,310 | $27,920 | $75,290 | $20.23 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 510 | $47,950 | $51,220 | $44,720 | $60,870 | $23.05 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 480 | $49,710 | $51,850 | $41,870 | $63,210 | $23.9 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 480 | $47,930 | $47,840 | $37,930 | $62,380 | $23.04 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 430 | $50,220 | $52,460 | $38,530 | $66,820 | $24.14 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | 420 | $40,440 | $39,600 | $30,600 | $49,700 | $19.44 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 410 | $43,380 | $45,180 | $36,670 | $56,030 | $20.86 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 410 | $51,540 | $53,410 | $38,050 | $72,440 | $24.78 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 390 | $48,400 | $50,780 | $39,880 | $65,930 | $23.27 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 380 | $54,080 | $52,460 | $33,220 | $69,560 | $26 |
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 370 | $45,130 | $46,280 | $40,520 | $53,730 | $21.7 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | 330 | $46,170 | $49,680 | $34,830 | $65,690 | $22.2 |
| Furniture Finishers | 310 | $40,010 | $40,910 | $35,870 | $48,870 | $19.23 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 300 | $50,060 | $51,090 | $39,370 | $62,090 | $24.07 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | 270 | $51,410 | $53,370 | $46,430 | $63,300 | $24.72 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 270 | $44,370 | $43,830 | $35,940 | $57,140 | $21.33 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 220 | $53,530 | $52,890 | $42,240 | $65,890 | $25.74 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 220 | $37,500 | $37,920 | $28,940 | $48,060 | $18.03 |
| Upholsterers | 220 | $45,530 | $43,950 | $19,990 | $56,950 | $21.89 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 210 | $47,540 | $51,690 | $45,570 | $69,750 | $22.86 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 210 | $38,640 | $39,240 | $23,260 | $54,600 | $18.58 |
| Gas Plant Operators | 200 | $87,170 | $90,210 | $70,420 | $110,740 | $41.91 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 200 | $42,030 | $44,580 | $32,590 | $61,110 | $20.21 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 200 | $42,060 | $44,500 | $34,970 | $59,810 | $20.22 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 180 | $62,010 | $62,580 | $53,110 | $77,710 | $29.81 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 180 | $65,820 | $55,230 | $37,740 | $68,850 | $31.65 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 180 | $48,080 | $46,010 | $39,580 | $51,190 | $23.12 |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 150 | $58,890 | $56,720 | $48,970 | $68,760 | $28.31 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | 110 | $51,000 | $56,830 | $47,590 | $74,010 | $24.52 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 110 | $39,950 | $41,000 | $34,260 | $50,180 | $19.21 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 100 | $38,370 | $38,780 | $31,180 | $44,510 | $18.45 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 100 | $48,700 | $46,480 | $38,930 | $54,650 | $23.41 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | 100 | $46,930 | $46,570 | $34,220 | $56,520 | $22.56 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | 90 | $44,750 | $46,180 | $36,210 | $59,990 | $21.52 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | 90 | $70,010 | $67,690 | $47,010 | $91,230 | $33.66 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | 90 | $40,780 | $39,740 | $30,950 | $46,800 | $19.61 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 80 | $37,870 | $39,500 | $32,200 | $46,960 | $18.21 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 80 | $51,760 | $52,800 | $46,880 | $61,270 | $24.89 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 70 | $104,550 | $104,920 | $72,240 | $131,770 | $50.26 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 60 | $83,070 | $88,180 | $69,140 | $104,350 | $39.94 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 50 | $31,200 | $34,570 | $30,210 | $46,450 | $15 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | ** | $26,280 | $30,770 | $24,960 | $39,430 | $12.64 |
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=55&OCC_CODE=51-0000. the group row is AREA 55 / OCC_CODE 51-0000, and each table row is its own detailed record for this area, AREA 55 / OCC_CODE 51-xxxx. Reference period: May 2024. Fetched October 2026 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip.