How to become a Helpers--Production Worker

Official title: Helpers--Production Workers

Also called: Assembly Line Worker, Control Room Helper, Laminator Helper, Machine Helper, Machine Operator Helper, Press Helper, Press Room Helper, Production Helper, Slitter 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.

Main 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $39,070 a year The middle half earn $35,220 to $45,990.
• About 167,400 people work in this job now, and about 153,600 are projected by 2035. (-8.2%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• 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
• Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

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Questions people ask

How much does a Helpers--Production Worker earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $39,070 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $35,220 to $45,990.

Is a Helpers--Production Worker a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 8% by 2035, from about 167,400 to about 153,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Helpers--Production Worker?

Usually not. Only 12% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Helpers--Production Worker?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.