Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

51-0000 Production Occupations (Major Group)

This major group comprises the following occupations: First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers ; Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers ; Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers ; Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers ; Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers ; Engine and Other Machine Assemblers ; Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters ; Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators ; Team Assemblers ; Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters ; Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other ; Bakers ; Butchers and Meat Cutters ; Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers ; Slaughterers and Meat Packers ; Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders ; Food Batchmakers ; Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders ; Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic ; Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic ; Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Machinists ; Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders ; Pourers and Casters, Metal ; Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ; Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic ; Foundry Mold and Coremakers ; Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Tool and Die Makers ; Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers ; Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic ; Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ; Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners ; Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other ; Prepress Technicians and Workers ; Printing Press Operators ; Print Binding and Finishing Workers ; Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers ; Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials ; Sewing Machine Operators ; Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers ; Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders ; Sewers, Hand ; Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers ; Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders ; Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers ; Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers ; Upholsterers ; Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other ; Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters ; Furniture Finishers ; Model Makers, Wood ; Patternmakers, Wood ; Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood ; Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing ; Woodworkers, All Other ; Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ; Power Distributors and Dispatchers ; Power Plant Operators ; Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators ; Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators ; Chemical Plant and System Operators ; Gas Plant Operators ; Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ; Plant and System Operators, All Other ; Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders ; Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand ; Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Cutters and Trimmers, Hand ; Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders ; Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers ; Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers ; Dental Laboratory Technicians ; Medical Appliance Technicians ; Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians ; Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders ; Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Painters, Transportation Equipment ; Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers ; Semiconductor Processors ; Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators ; Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders ; Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders ; Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders ; Etchers and Engravers ; Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic ; Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ; Tire Builders ; Helpers--Production Workers ; Production Workers, All Other*


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this major group:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
8,365,980 0.3 % $16.45 $34,220 0.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for this major group:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.95 $10.99 $14.74 $20.07 $26.88
Annual Wage (2) $18,620 $22,860 $30,670 $41,740 $55,910


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Employment Services 576,280 19.53 $11.97 $24,890
Animal Slaughtering and Processing 330,500 67.44 $12.34 $25,670
Plastics Product Manufacturing 291,110 57.17 $15.09 $31,400
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 274,650 62.66 $17.45 $36,290
Printing and Related Support Activities 252,130 52.64 $16.99 $35,340

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Footwear Manufacturing 9,600 70.35 $12.76 $26,540
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing 232,360 70.21 $18.43 $38,340
Foundries 81,500 68.76 $16.49 $34,300
Animal Slaughtering and Processing 330,500 67.44 $12.34 $25,670
Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing 7,670 66.96 $11.91 $24,770

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 59,260 14.97 $33.08 $68,800
Natural Gas Distribution 9,620 8.87 $32.09 $66,760
Spectator Sports 570 0.45 $31.20 $64,900
Postal Service 180 0.03 $31.06 $64,600
Oil and Gas Extraction 12,150 7.48 $30.49 $63,430


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 779,880 55.55 0.85 $16.30 $33,910
Texas 632,260 61.36 0.94 $16.02 $33,320
Ohio 452,990 91.00 1.40 $16.57 $34,460
Illinois 426,470 76.51 1.17 $16.87 $35,090
Pennsylvania 400,540 72.18 1.11 $16.99 $35,350




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Indiana 323,350 117.24 1.80 $16.31 $33,930
Wisconsin 293,190 110.84 1.70 $16.74 $34,810
Iowa 150,580 103.91 1.59 $15.65 $32,560
Arkansas 115,400 101.26 1.55 $14.32 $29,790
Alabama 183,160 101.23 1.55 $15.54 $32,310




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 5,050 7.83 0.12 $23.92 $49,750
Wyoming 12,300 45.12 0.69 $22.37 $46,530
Alaska 13,310 42.51 0.65 $21.56 $44,840
Washington 152,420 56.02 0.86 $19.33 $40,210
Louisiana 108,660 59.06 0.91 $19.24 $40,020





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 253,130 66.22 1.02 $15.25 $31,730
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 248,590 69.38 1.06 $16.73 $34,800
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 175,330 68.72 1.05 $18.19 $37,830
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 147,610 29.16 0.45 $16.90 $35,160
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 123,910 72.41 1.11 $17.47 $36,330
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 117,370 57.40 0.88 $14.90 $30,990
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 113,930 51.14 0.78 $15.24 $31,690
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division 97,660 70.44 1.08 $15.67 $32,590
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 96,900 93.38 1.43 $18.63 $38,740
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 92,900 51.18 0.78 $18.62 $38,720




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 32,490 313.82 4.81 $14.48 $30,110
Dalton, GA 15,750 248.10 3.80 $13.68 $28,450
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 27,710 199.85 3.06 $14.74 $30,650
Holland-Grand Haven, MI 19,370 193.74 2.97 $15.70 $32,660
Columbus, IN 8,050 191.56 2.94 $15.30 $31,820
Sheboygan, WI 10,140 181.96 2.79 $17.02 $35,390
Morristown, TN 7,850 178.99 2.74 $13.54 $28,160
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 15,870 178.22 2.73 $17.08 $35,530
Kokomo, IN 6,760 175.64 2.69 $20.54 $42,730
Decatur, IL 8,600 167.66 2.57 $20.02 $41,640




Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Fairbanks, AK 1,020 28.93 0.44 $27.39 $56,960
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 3,290 41.65 0.64 $24.48 $50,920
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 14,240 91.92 1.41 $22.75 $47,310
Farmington, NM 2,960 60.99 0.94 $22.51 $46,820
Baton Rouge, LA 20,790 58.35 0.89 $22.10 $45,960
Lawton, OK 2,870 67.82 1.04 $21.97 $45,700
Peabody, MA NECTA Division 6,030 60.53 0.93 $21.85 $45,450
Norwich-New London, CT-RI 5,430 42.06 0.64 $21.33 $44,380
Monroe, MI 3,290 91.39 1.40 $21.26 $44,210
Lake Charles, LA 6,320 73.43 1.13 $21.24 $44,180

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 46,820 235.99 3.62 $15.47 $32,170
Other Ohio nonmetropolitan area 46,490 174.76 2.68 $15.17 $31,560
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 43,420 114.03 1.75 $14.47 $30,090
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 42,360 192.20 2.95 $15.85 $32,960
Other North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 40,480 138.63 2.13 $13.82 $28,740

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 46,820 235.99 3.62 $15.47 $32,170
Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area 30,350 224.31 3.44 $14.74 $30,650
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 42,360 192.20 2.95 $15.85 $32,960
Eastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 28,520 182.40 2.80 $16.40 $34,120
Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area 11,020 177.45 2.72 $13.23 $27,510

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwestern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 3,190 52.02 0.80 $26.64 $55,400
Southeastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 1,560 43.17 0.66 $24.32 $50,590
Northeastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area 2,000 41.09 0.63 $23.58 $49,060
Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area 2,200 40.70 0.62 $23.08 $48,010
Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area 7,450 103.72 1.59 $21.98 $45,720


About May 2011 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012