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Job outlook for plant production workers in the United States
Plant production worker job and salary trends over time
Plant production worker jobs over time
Plant production worker job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 105 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 124 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 157 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 182 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 209 | 0.00% |
Average plant production worker salary over time
Plant production worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,409 | $15.10 | +4.8% |
| 2024 | $29,967 | $14.41 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $28,556 | $13.73 | +6.4% |
| 2022 | $26,847 | $12.91 | +5.0% |
| 2021 | $25,570 | $12.29 | +3.6% |
Plant production worker jobs by state
Most common states for plant production workers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 623,657 | 169 | 27% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 210 | 24% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 434 | 23% |
| 4 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 662 | 21% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 143 | 21% |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,503 | 20% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,486 | 18% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,335 | 18% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,035 | 18% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 766 | 18% |
| 11 | Delaware | 961,939 | 169 | 18% |
| 12 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,749 | 17% |
| 13 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,165 | 17% |
| 14 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,045 | 17% |
| 15 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 307 | 17% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 100 | 17% |
| 17 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 797 | 16% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 492 | 16% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 886 | 15% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 266 | 15% |
Most common cities for plant production workers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nacogdoches | 4 | 12% | $26,714 |
| 2 | Florence | 2 | 5% | $23,978 |
| 3 | Chino | 1 | 1% | $29,593 |
| 4 | Greeley | 1 | 1% | $30,777 |
| 5 | Kansas City | 1 | 1% | $31,373 |
| 6 | Lancaster | 1 | 1% | $29,830 |
| 7 | Fresno | 1 | 0% | $30,537 |
Plant Production Worker job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of plant production worker experts
Catawba College
Erin Dougherty
Associate Professor of Costume Design Costume DirectorCatawba College
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
What general advice would you give to a Plant Production Worker?
Erin Dougherty: Don't underestimate what you can do. Make sure to advocate for yourself, push for the max salary listed once you've been offered the job, and be firm that you meet the qualifications. Talk about the skills you can do, how you can collaborate, and adjacent skill sets that could come into play, including "soft" skills. Don't lie of course, because that will come back to bite you, and facts are really easy to check these days. You need to express self-confidence if you're going to survive in this industry, and overall, be a good person to work with.
What Plant Production Worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Erin Dougherty: Skills that broaden communication, and your ability to be flexible. We're seeing design/rendering software and patterning really move electronically to programs like Procreate and even CLO 3D, and of course Vectorworks for Light and Scenic. Pay attention to industry standards. It's helpful to be familiar with technology and have a wide swath of skills in your technical area-people want you to wear multiple hats and be at least a partial generalist as well as your specialty. The other thing is, we really need Technical Directors. That's an industry gap, and if you can fill a gap, you're hireable.
What will help Plant Production Workers increase their earning potential?
Erin Dougherty: Be flexible and don't be afraid to broaden your search. Technical Theatre is in demand around the country, but many times you can't expect to jump into a Design or high-level position right away with a BA degree. Don't be afraid to work your way up from a stitcher or carpenter and make connections or try to build your resources (monetary and personal) before a big jump. Companies want to know your work ethic, your creative eye, and attention to detail. However, you also want to make sure the company isn't going to abuse you. Especially since the pandemic, there has been a call to pay even interns a living wage and/or provide housing as part of the "perks." Unpaid internships should be a thing of the past. It also depends on the market you're trying to get into-NYC is much different than Regional Theatre, and most places won't offer housing in NYC. Ask yourself: what is your ultimate goal. If you're looking at NYC, great, but is it only because you think you should? There's a LOT of fantastic theatre throughout the US or with traveling companies. And your skills are also applicable to other aspects of the Entertainment Industry. Look at all options: film, fashion, commercials, theme parks, cosplay etc.