Highest-Paying Production Worker Jobs in 2026
Research Summary: The Zippia data team has utilized a blend of public government and company data alongside insights from thousands of job postings to create updated average salary estimates for production jobs across the United States. This analysis highlights the highest-paid roles within the production workforce based on their average annual salaries.
Below is a summary of our findings regarding the highest-paying types of production workers:
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Production Specialist ranks as the highest-paid production worker, with an average salary of $48,500, translating to an hourly rate of $23.27.
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The second highest-paying role is Production Technician, earning an average salary of $43,000.
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The overall average salary for production workers is $36,500 per year, with an average hourly wage of $17.55.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path is a significant decision. While salary should not be the sole factor, it plays a crucial role in shaping your career trajectory. Understanding which types of production roles offer the highest pay can help you navigate your career progression effectively.
Here are the top salaries for different types of production workers:
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Production Specialist
Average Salary: $48,500
Production specialists manage and coordinate production activities based on job orders. They assist the operations department and collaborate with supervisors to develop production plans and identify workflow requirements. Responsibilities include overseeing workflow management, organizing training for the production team, and ensuring product quality and timely delivery.
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Production Technician
Average Salary: $43,000
Production technicians are tasked with assembling and testing products before they reach the market. They work closely with manufacturing and quality assurance teams to uphold high production standards, implementing efficient production methods and scheduling regular training on safety regulations.
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Production Operator
Average Salary: $40,000
Production operators are responsible for monitoring manufacturing machines, ensuring operational efficiency. They conduct inspections to guarantee safety and functionality, and report any concerns to a supervisor promptly.
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Production Forklift Operator
Average Salary: $38,000
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Production Line Operator
Average Salary: $36,000
Production line operators should possess strong reading skills and knowledge of loading/unloading processes, quality control, and production line operations. They typically work in manufacturing settings, assisting in the assembly and production of various goods.
Below is a complete table of the highest-paid production worker roles, along with a detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Production Workers
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Production Specialist | |
| 2 | Production Technician | |
| 3 | Production Operator | |
| 4 | Production Forklift Operator | |
| 5 | Production Line Operator | |
| 6 | Pack Out Operator | |
| 7 | Warehouse Worker | |
| 8 | Generator Worker | |
| 9 | Production Associate | |
| 10 | General Machine Operator | |
| 11 | Shop Worker | |
| 12 | Production Assembler | |
| 13 | Industrial Worker | |
| 14 | Assembly Worker | |
| 15 | Factory Worker | |
| 16 | Stacker | |
| 17 | Production Line Worker | |
| 18 | Production Team Member | |
| 19 | Assembly Line Worker | |
| 20 | Line Up Worker |
Methodology
Zippia compiles salary estimates using publicly available data from government sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Our data science team also reviews job postings and company resources for the latest salary information.
After gathering relevant data, we calculate a weighted average for each job title. For comprehensive details on our salary estimates, please refer to our detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Production Worker Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid production worker job?
The highest-paid production worker job is a production specialist. Production specialists earn an average salary of $48,500, which equates to $23.27 per hour.
Production specialists manage production activities, collaborate with supervisors, and oversee workflow, ensuring quality standards and timely deliveries.
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What is a good salary for a production worker?
A good salary for a production worker is $36,500 or more. This figure represents the average production worker salary, meaning those earning at least this amount are above the average pay scale.
However, salaries can vary significantly based on location and experience level, so it’s advisable to research local averages for more precise expectations.
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Do Production Worker jobs pay well?
Production worker jobs can vary in pay. While the average salary of $36,500 is lower than the national average of approximately $50,000 per year, many production roles offer competitive wages, particularly for skilled positions.
The top 10% of production workers can earn significantly more, with salaries reaching over $45,000 annually.
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Where do production workers get paid the most?
Production workers earn the highest salaries in Washington state. In Washington, production workers have an average annual salary of $43,500, with an hourly wage of $20.91.
Following Washington, the states with well-paid production workers include Massachusetts, California, and New York, with average salaries of $41,000, $39,500, and $38,800, respectively.
The cities that offer the best salaries for production workers are:
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Seattle, WA – $45,000
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San Diego, CA – $42,500
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Rochester, NY – $41,500
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
