Production
Production worker helper
Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Median pay
$39,070
Growth to 2035
−8%
declining
Openings a year
20,900
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Production worker helper
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Production worker helper: 17% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Lift raw materials, finished products, and packed items, manually or using hoists.
- Mark or tag identification on parts.
- Observe equipment operations so that malfunctions can be detected, and notify operators of any malfunctions.
- Count finished products to determine if product orders are complete.
- Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards.
- Operate machinery used in the production process, or assist machine operators.
- Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
- Remove products, machine attachments, or waste material from machines.
Also called: Assembly Line Worker · Control Room Helper · Laminator Helper · Machine Helper · Machine Operator Helper · Press Helper · Press Room Helper · Production Helper
Outlook and AI
Helpers--production workers held 167,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 153,600 by 2035 (−8%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as automation continues to replace production worker helpers in manufacturing facilities.
Compare with
- Production worker helper vs. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Production worker helper vs. Extraction worker helper
- Production worker helper vs. Machine feeders and offbearers
- Production worker helper vs. Carpenter helper
- Production worker helper vs. Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
- Production worker helper vs. Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
- Production worker helper vs. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Production worker helper vs. Packers and packagers, hand
- Production worker helper vs. Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders
- Production worker helper vs. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand