How to become a helpers--production worker

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

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What helpers--production workers do

• Mark or tag identification on parts.
• Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
• Lift raw materials, finished products, and packed items, manually or using hoists.
• Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards.
• Separate products according to weight, grade, size, or composition of materials used to produce them.
• Place products in equipment or on work surfaces for further processing, inspecting, or wrapping.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Writing
• Mathematics

Is helpers--production worker a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 23% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• North Dakota $46,170
• Montana $46,110
• Iowa $45,560
• Colorado $45,550
• Washington $45,450

Helpers--Production Workers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.