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Helpers--Production Workers

Also called: Control Room Helper, Press Helper, Production Helper, Welder Helper

Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

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Median pay BLS, 2025$39,070
Openings a year BLS, 2025–3520,900
Typical education to start BLSHigh school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 Low
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 -8.2%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 5 of its 34 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 8.2% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 13.4% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 8.4 hires for every 10 job openings in nondurable goods manufacturing, which employs about 40% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 10% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$34k$46knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$35,910$30,800 to $38,4307,230
Alaska$42,530$40,750 to $50,740280
Arizona$39,680$36,200 to $43,8501,350
Arkansas$35,540$34,600 to $38,3606,760
California$43,970$38,800 to $49,29016,730
Colorado$45,550$39,120 to $49,7601,350
Connecticut$45,260$37,500 to $51,4701,400
Delaware$38,380$37,480 to $42,950230
Florida$37,950$34,350 to $43,5505,010
Georgia$36,280$32,680 to $42,9404,480
Guam$29,520$25,000 to $33,330310
Hawaii$44,380$40,120 to $51,280230
Idaho$38,240$36,640 to $44,1201,140
Illinois$41,480$38,850 to $47,7505,210
Indiana$42,210$38,160 to $46,0502,450
Iowa$45,560$42,840 to $50,0302,070
Kansas$37,320$30,990 to $43,4801,430
Kentucky$42,130$38,650 to $48,9102,900
Louisiana$36,400$31,780 to $42,6903,710
Maine$44,120$38,630 to $51,710470
Maryland$44,680$37,600 to $53,8301,650
Massachusetts$42,280$36,120 to $48,4901,790
Michigan$41,660$36,920 to $45,7603,610
Minnesota$44,720$38,330 to $47,8402,570
Mississippi$33,880$32,660 to $37,9803,540
Missouri$40,580$35,880 to $48,1306,250
Montana$46,110$38,460 to $47,850220
Nebraska$45,020$30,440 to $49,730700
Nevada$39,730$35,360 to $45,070680
New Hampshire$42,740$36,600 to $43,630690
New Jersey$39,290$34,930 to $47,3704,450
New Mexico$35,650$31,730 to $38,650810
New York$43,540$38,150 to $48,5203,810
North Carolina$39,410$36,200 to $45,8704,350
North Dakota$46,170$31,200 to $58,750220
Ohio$39,600$36,020 to $46,1704,280
Oklahoma$36,240$31,040 to $40,6102,200
Oregon$45,390$39,730 to $49,7002,420
Pennsylvania$41,060$37,120 to $47,2306,450
Puerto Rico$22,780$22,370 to $25,0401,510
Rhode Island$44,720$35,480 to $49,050210
South Carolina$36,610$31,970 to $44,2201,950
Tennessee$38,330$35,190 to $45,5105,270
Texas$36,610$32,690 to $41,70030,470
Utah$37,110$33,630 to $47,0401,000
Vermont$39,540$38,140 to $53,950270
Virginia$37,740$35,010 to $44,6903,900
Washington$45,450$40,300 to $52,0203,620
West Virginia$39,190$37,830 to $46,790670
Wisconsin$45,100$37,770 to $49,9802,900
Wyoming$40,200$37,680 to $47,520280

Nationally: $39,070. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 5 of its 34 tasks

0 · AI alone could halve the time 5 · AI + software built on it could 29 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
Not much Lift raw materials, finished products, and packed items, manually or using hoists. Not published
Not much Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards. Not published
AI + software Count finished products to determine if product orders are complete. Not published
Not much Transfer finished products, raw materials, tools, or equipment between storage and work areas of plants and warehouses, by hand or using hand trucks or powered lift trucks. Not published
AI + software Mark or tag identification on parts. Not published
Not much Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances. Not published
See all 34 tasks
Not much Pack and store materials and products. Not published
Not much Observe equipment operations so that malfunctions can be detected, and notify operators of any malfunctions. Not published
Not much Operate machinery used in the production process, or assist machine operators. Not published
Not much Help production workers by performing duties of lesser skill, such as supplying or holding materials or tools, or cleaning work areas and equipment. Not published
Not much Place products in equipment or on work surfaces for further processing, inspecting, or wrapping. Not published
Not much Separate products according to weight, grade, size, or composition of materials used to produce them. Not published
Not much Remove products, machine attachments, or waste material from machines. Not published
Not much Wash work areas, machines, equipment, vehicles, or products. Not published
AI + software Record information, such as the number of products tested, meter readings, or dates and times of product production. Not published
Not much Start machines or equipment to begin production processes. Not published
AI + software Read gauges or charts, and record data obtained. Not published
Not much Prepare raw materials for processing. Not published
AI + software Signal coworkers to direct them to move products during the production process. Not published
Not much Measure amounts of products, lengths of extruded articles, or weights of filled containers to ensure conformance to specifications. Not published
Not much Turn valves to regulate flow of liquids or air, to reverse machines, to start pumps, or to regulate equipment. Not published
Not much Tie products in bundles for further processing or shipment, following prescribed procedures. Not published
Not much Clean and lubricate equipment. Not published
Not much Break up defective products for reprocessing. Not published
Not much Position spouts or chutes of storage bins so that containers can be filled. Not published
Not much Attach slings, ropes, or cables to objects such as pipes, hoses, or bundles. Not published
Not much Perform minor repairs to machines, such as replacing damaged or worn parts. Not published
Not much Unclamp and hoist full reels from braiding, winding, or other fabricating machines, using power hoists. Not published
Not much Cut or break flashing from materials or products. Not published
Not much Change machine gears, using wrenches. Not published
Not much Fold products and product parts during processing. Not published
Not much Mix ingredients according to specified procedures or formulas. Not published
Not much Thread ends of items such as thread, cloth, and lace through needles and rollers, and around take-up tubes. Not published
Not much Dump materials such as prepared ingredients into machine hoppers prior to mixing. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 34 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 34 tasks fall under 26 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up5 of 34 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most0 of 26 activities Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas 3.36#158 1.16#157
Prepare industrial materials for processing or use 0.42#277 0.17#251
Operate lifting or moving equipment 0.09#318 0.02#311
Remove workpieces from production equipment 0.06#323 0.05#284
Prepare mixtures or solutions 14#71 3.65#105
Sort materials or products 3.97#147 1.71#135
Inspect completed work or finished products 3.91#150 1.95#130
Maintain operational records 2.92#170 0.49#209
Show all 26 activities
Repair tools or equipment 1.87#202 0.18#246
Package objects 0.69#258 0.14#259
Load products, materials, or equipment for transportation or further processing 0.15#308 0.01#322
Operate industrial processing or production equipment 0.13#309 0.02#301
Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance 20#57 4.31#101
Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools 6.37#110 1.33#146
Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment 6.04#113 1.15#158
Maintain tools or equipment 4.47#136 1.04#167
Clean workpieces, finished products, or other objects 4.02#145 1.20#155
Mark materials or objects for identification 3.28#160 0.80#172
Notify others of emergencies or problems 2.78#172 4.95#92
Cut materials 2.75#173 0.50#207
Assemble equipment or components 2.35#187 0.43#218
Monitor equipment operation 1.87#203 0.26#236
Perform general construction or extraction activities 1.25#226 0.15#256
Move materials, equipment, or supplies 0.65#261 0.09#272
Position workpieces or materials on equipment 0.61#264 0.17#249
Signal others to coordinate work activities 0.33#283 0.74#179
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Maintain operational records” holds 2 tasks rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 2.92 of every 10,000 conversations, #170 of 332.

How people in this work use Claude

What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations

  • Data or a spreadsheet20%
  • A document or report17%
  • An explanation or answer13%
  • Configuration or infrastructure10%
  • An analysis or summary7%

How they worked with Claude

90% handed the task off10% worked on it together

57% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.

How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for helpers--production workers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.Helpers--production workers: -8.2%Helpers--Production WorkersAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.Helpers--production workers: -8.2%Helpers--Production Workers

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 38,054 moves out

  1. 1 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
  2. 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
  3. 3 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 3%
  4. 4 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 3%
  5. 5 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers High +1.8% 2%

Where people moved in from

of 34,685 moves in

  1. 1 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
  2. 2 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 4%
  3. 3 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 3%
  4. 4 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Low +1.5% 3%
  5. 5 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 3%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

O*NET survey of workers in this occupation

  • 35% less than high school
  • 32% high school
  • 20% postsecondary certificate
  • 6% some college
  • 8% professional doctorate

O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 20 people answered.

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 27% less than high school
  • 40% high school
  • 16% some college
  • 7% associate's
  • 8% bachelor's
  • 2% master's

Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 732 people surveyed.

Why the two can differ

O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

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