Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for production line workers in the United States
Production line worker job and salary trends over time
Production line worker jobs over time
Production line worker job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 150,251 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 149,756 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 175,620 | 0.05% |
| 2018 | 187,705 | 0.06% |
| 2017 | 210,268 | 0.06% |
Average production line worker salary over time
Production line worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $28,844 | $13.87 | +4.8% |
| 2025 | $27,520 | $13.23 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $26,225 | $12.61 | +6.4% |
| 2023 | $24,655 | $11.85 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | $23,482 | $11.29 | +3.6% |
Production line worker jobs by state
Most common states for production line workers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 455 | 34% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 616 | 32% |
| 3 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 816 | 26% |
| 4 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,535 | 25% |
| 5 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,474 | 24% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,344 | 24% |
| 7 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,516 | 23% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 937 | 23% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 713 | 23% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 204 | 23% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,244 | 22% |
| 12 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 386 | 22% |
| 13 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 151 | 22% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,748 | 21% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,519 | 21% |
| 16 | Delaware | 961,939 | 205 | 21% |
| 17 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 4,098 | 20% |
| 18 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 358 | 20% |
| 19 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,057 | 19% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 690 | 19% |
Most common cities for production line workers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owatonna | 3 | 12% | $33,675 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 8 | 0% | $32,008 |
| 3 | Kansas City | 2 | 0% | $30,719 |
| 4 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $29,307 |
| 5 | Seattle | 2 | 0% | $39,540 |
| 6 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $31,825 |
Production Line Worker job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of production line 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 Production Line 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 Production Line 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.