Wages by occupation
What the largest manufacturing occupations pay, nationally and in every state. Annual wages from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025.
01Occupations
The 30 largest occupations in manufacturing
Ranked by U.S. manufacturing employment. Wages shown are for workers in manufacturing, with the all-industry median for comparison. Choose an occupation to compare states.
- 1Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsProductionMedian, manufacturing$46,140Median, all industries$44,650Jobs in manufacturing1,074,240
- 2First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersProductionMedian, manufacturing$75,180Median, all industries$74,450Jobs in manufacturing491,210
- 3Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandTransportation and material movingMedian, manufacturing$43,180Median, all industries$40,240Jobs in manufacturing400,040
- 4Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersProductionMedian, manufacturing$49,270Median, all industries$48,570Jobs in manufacturing382,920
- 5Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersProductionMedian, manufacturing$44,450Median, all industries$43,220Jobs in manufacturing298,640
- 6Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersProductionMedian, manufacturing$51,210Median, all industries$53,750Jobs in manufacturing274,710
- 7General and Operations ManagersManagementMedian, manufacturing$130,960Median, all industries$105,770Jobs in manufacturing249,060
- 8Industrial EngineersEngineeringMedian, manufacturing$101,160Median, all industries$102,440Jobs in manufacturing248,860
- 9MachinistsProductionMedian, manufacturing$58,540Median, all industries$58,750Jobs in manufacturing241,490
- 10Industrial Machinery MechanicsInstallation, maintenance, and repairMedian, manufacturing$65,710Median, all industries$64,520Jobs in manufacturing232,500
- 11Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksOffice and administrativeMedian, manufacturing$46,910Median, all industries$45,260Jobs in manufacturing230,110
- 12Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsSalesMedian, manufacturing$77,280Median, all industries$72,080Jobs in manufacturing228,570
- 13Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersProductionMedian, manufacturing$45,910Median, all industries$45,850Jobs in manufacturing218,840
- 14Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralInstallation, maintenance, and repairMedian, manufacturing$61,500Median, all industries$49,590Jobs in manufacturing206,760
- 15Industrial Production ManagersManagementMedian, manufacturing$125,280Median, all industries$126,060Jobs in manufacturing185,250
- 16Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsTransportation and material movingMedian, manufacturing$45,860Median, all industries$46,420Jobs in manufacturing174,010
- 17Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsProductionMedian, manufacturing$50,910Median, all industries$50,690Jobs in manufacturing154,890
- 18Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversTransportation and material movingMedian, manufacturing$56,570Median, all industries$58,640Jobs in manufacturing153,100
- 19Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticProductionMedian, manufacturing$46,530Median, all industries$46,330Jobs in manufacturing150,750
- 20Food BatchmakersProductionMedian, manufacturing$44,170Median, all industries$42,290Jobs in manufacturing147,920
- 21Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticProductionMedian, manufacturing$44,970Median, all industries$44,350Jobs in manufacturing138,510
- 22Software DevelopersComputer and mathematicalMedian, manufacturing$136,330Median, all industries$135,980Jobs in manufacturing136,390
- 23Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersProductionMedian, manufacturing$58,420Median, all industries$58,040Jobs in manufacturing134,210
- 24Packers and Packagers, HandTransportation and material movingMedian, manufacturing$37,070Median, all industries$36,280Jobs in manufacturing132,540
- 25Mechanical EngineersEngineeringMedian, manufacturing$101,570Median, all industries$104,110Jobs in manufacturing130,930
- 26Customer Service RepresentativesOffice and administrativeMedian, manufacturing$50,460Median, all industries$44,770Jobs in manufacturing127,940
- 27Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksOffice and administrativeMedian, manufacturing$60,970Median, all industries$59,650Jobs in manufacturing123,160
- 28Office Clerks, GeneralOffice and administrativeMedian, manufacturing$46,860Median, all industries$45,010Jobs in manufacturing122,750
- 29Helpers--Production WorkersProductionMedian, manufacturing$39,340Median, all industries$39,070Jobs in manufacturing117,470
- 30Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersProductionMedian, manufacturing$39,170Median, all industries$38,300Jobs in manufacturing113,700
| # | Occupation | Jobs in mfg. | Median, mfg. | 10th–90th percentile, mfg. | Median, all industries | Mfg. vs. all† (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsProduction | 1,074,240 | $46,140 | $35,200–$69,780 | $44,650 | +3.3% |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersProduction | 491,210 | $75,180 | $48,300–$105,050 | $74,450 | +1.0% |
| 3 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandTransportation and material moving | 400,040 | $43,180 | $33,080–$56,400 | $40,240 | +7.3% |
| 4 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersProduction | 382,920 | $49,270 | $36,960–$77,090 | $48,570 | +1.4% |
| 5 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersProduction | 298,640 | $44,450 | $34,570–$60,810 | $43,220 | +2.8% |
| 6 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersProduction | 274,710 | $51,210 | $39,340–$71,920 | $53,750 | −4.7% |
| 7 | General and Operations ManagersManagement | 249,060 | $130,960 | $60,320–$283,810 | $105,770 | +23.8% |
| 8 | Industrial EngineersEngineering | 248,860 | $101,160 | $73,960–$150,350 | $102,440 | −1.2% |
| 9 | MachinistsProduction | 241,490 | $58,540 | $39,610–$78,200 | $58,750 | −0.4% |
| 10 | Industrial Machinery MechanicsInstallation, maintenance, and repair | 232,500 | $65,710 | $47,220–$92,390 | $64,520 | +1.8% |
| 11 | Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksOffice and administrative | 230,110 | $46,910 | $36,280–$62,290 | $45,260 | +3.6% |
| 12 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsSales | 228,570 | $77,280 | $43,710–$142,780 | $72,080 | +7.2% |
| 13 | Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersProduction | 218,840 | $45,910 | $35,490–$62,710 | $45,850 | +0.1% |
| 14 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralInstallation, maintenance, and repair | 206,760 | $61,500 | $42,380–$81,680 | $49,590 | +24.0% |
| 15 | Industrial Production ManagersManagement | 185,250 | $125,280 | $78,120–$198,880 | $126,060 | −0.6% |
| 16 | Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsTransportation and material moving | 174,010 | $45,860 | $36,430–$59,480 | $46,420 | −1.2% |
| 17 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsProduction | 154,890 | $50,910 | $38,430–$73,970 | $50,690 | +0.4% |
| 18 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversTransportation and material moving | 153,100 | $56,570 | $42,600–$73,900 | $58,640 | −3.5% |
| 19 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticProduction | 150,750 | $46,530 | $36,210–$66,280 | $46,330 | +0.4% |
| 20 | Food BatchmakersProduction | 147,920 | $44,170 | $33,400–$59,630 | $42,290 | +4.4% |
| 21 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticProduction | 138,510 | $44,970 | $34,530–$61,560 | $44,350 | +1.4% |
| 22 | Software DevelopersComputer and mathematical | 136,390 | $136,330 | $86,660–$215,320 | $135,980 | +0.3% |
| 23 | Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersProduction | 134,210 | $58,420 | $37,700–$92,840 | $58,040 | +0.7% |
| 24 | Packers and Packagers, HandTransportation and material moving | 132,540 | $37,070 | $30,020–$47,590 | $36,280 | +2.2% |
| 25 | Mechanical EngineersEngineering | 130,930 | $101,570 | $73,030–$157,560 | $104,110 | −2.4% |
| 26 | Customer Service RepresentativesOffice and administrative | 127,940 | $50,460 | $37,440–$74,880 | $44,770 | +12.7% |
| 27 | Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksOffice and administrative | 123,160 | $60,970 | $41,770–$88,850 | $59,650 | +2.2% |
| 28 | Office Clerks, GeneralOffice and administrative | 122,750 | $46,860 | $31,980–$68,460 | $45,010 | +4.1% |
| 29 | Helpers--Production WorkersProduction | 117,470 | $39,340 | $32,220–$53,730 | $39,070 | +0.7% |
| 30 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersProduction | 113,700 | $39,170 | $30,640–$48,960 | $38,300 | +2.3% |
The bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile; the darker band is the middle half of workers and the tick marks the median. Excludes residual “all other” categories.
Our calculation from BLS figures; formulas are under “About this data.” All other values are published by BLS.
02About this data
Source, definitions, and limits
- Source
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
- Period
- May 2025 estimates (released May 15, 2026)
- Official
- U.S. by industry; U.S. all industries; states, all industries
- Experimental
- States × manufacturing, BLS research estimates
- Citation
- Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).
What these wages are
- Straight-time gross pay: base pay, commissions, and production bonuses, excluding overtime, shift differentials, and benefits. Annual figures are hourly wages × 2,080 hours.
- The median is the midpoint of workers' wages; the 10th–90th percentile range shows where most workers fall. These describe all workers in the occupation, not any employer's pay scale.
- Where a state has few workers in an occupation, its estimates are less precise and can differ sharply from the U.S. figure.
- Not comparable to the average annual pay on state profiles, which comes from a different BLS program (QCEW) and includes all reported wages.
Official and experimental figures
- BLS does not publish official manufacturing-only wages by state. State medians are for the occupation across all employers in the state.
- Figures marked Experimental are BLS research estimates for manufacturing only. BLS provides them for research purposes, with higher model error and fewer published values; treat them as indicative.
- Not available: BLS did not release the estimate. No BLS estimate: BLS published nothing for that state and occupation. Neither is ever shown as zero.
- vs. U.S. = state median ÷ U.S. median − 1, both official all-industry figures. Mfg. vs. all = U.S. manufacturing median ÷ U.S. all-industry median − 1.