Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Arkansas employs 109,430 Production professionals across 82 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Production industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Production in Arkansas, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Production industry in Arkansas, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $117,370 | $112,420 | 210 | $56/hr |
| 2 | Gas Plant Operators | $100,870 | $91,850 | 400 | $48/hr |
| 3 | Power Plant Operators | $97,760 | $90,450 | 220 | $47/hr |
| 4 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | $91,610 | $85,470 | 240 | $44/hr |
| 5 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $86,580 | $80,110 | 220 | $41/hr |
| 6 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $64,440 | $64,900 | 1,160 | $30/hr |
| 7 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $63,090 | $69,930 | 11,000 | $30/hr |
| 8 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $58,000 | $57,250 | 200 | $27/hr |
| 9 | Tool and Die Makers | $56,840 | $56,370 | 290 | $27/hr |
| 10 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $56,390 | $59,450 | 210 | $27/hr |
| 11 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | $54,620 | $53,100 | 70 | $26/hr |
| 12 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | $52,800 | $52,550 | 160 | $25/hr |
| 13 | Machinists | $51,140 | $55,180 | 2,150 | $24/hr |
| 14 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,140 | $52,750 | 230 | $24/hr |
| 15 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $50,280 | $51,460 | 2,180 | $24/hr |
| 16 | Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,150 | $51,460 | 1,270 | $24/hr |
| 17 | Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $50,070 | $60,650 | 920 | $24/hr |
| 18 | Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $50,010 | $49,060 | 430 | $24/hr |
| 19 | Dental Laboratory Technicians | $49,960 | $49,500 | 840 | $24/hr |
| 20 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | $49,770 | $51,910 | 310 | $23/hr |
| 21 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,630 | $50,660 | 2,060 | $23/hr |
| 22 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,320 | $46,990 | 2,190 | $23/hr |
| 23 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $47,970 | $50,020 | 6,150 | $23/hr |
| 24 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $47,770 | $47,340 | 90 | $22/hr |
| 25 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,320 | $50,750 | 800 | $22/hr |
| 26 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,880 | $46,950 | 210 | $22/hr |
| 27 | Etchers and Engravers | $46,780 | $46,670 | 180 | $22/hr |
| 28 | Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,730 | $45,300 | 60 | $22/hr |
| 29 | Printing Press Operators | $46,470 | $47,640 | 1,760 | $22/hr |
| 30 | Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,380 | $47,720 | 1,870 | $22/hr |
| 31 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | $46,290 | $47,480 | 780 | $22/hr |
| 32 | Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $46,200 | $44,520 | 1,500 | $22/hr |
| 33 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,890 | $50,070 | 420 | $22/hr |
| 34 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,580 | $44,480 | 3,020 | $21/hr |
| 35 | Pourers and Casters, Metal | $45,410 | $49,540 | 90 | $21/hr |
| 36 | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,080 | $43,630 | 580 | $21/hr |
| 37 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,790 | $44,410 | 2,520 | $21/hr |
| 38 | Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,650 | $47,640 | 1,100 | $21/hr |
| 39 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,570 | $46,380 | 5,880 | $21/hr |
| 40 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,440 | $48,730 | 160 | $21/hr |
| 41 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $44,320 | $45,590 | 2,010 | $21/hr |
| 42 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,080 | $43,950 | 1,570 | $21/hr |
| 43 | Upholsterers | $43,660 | $49,790 | 210 | $20/hr |
| 44 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | $43,560 | $47,160 | 150 | $20/hr |
| 45 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $42,200 | $45,610 | 60 | $20/hr |
| 46 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $41,720 | $43,410 | 500 | $20/hr |
| 47 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | $41,260 | $44,400 | 640 | $19/hr |
| 48 | Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $41,040 | $44,390 | 200 | $19/hr |
| 49 | Semiconductor Processing Technicians | $40,610 | $42,140 | 40 | $19/hr |
| 50 | Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,480 | $42,180 | 330 | $19/hr |
| 51 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $40,310 | $42,280 | 50 | $19/hr |
| 52 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | $39,920 | $43,560 | 490 | $19/hr |
| 53 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,590 | $42,920 | 340 | $19/hr |
| 54 | Medical Appliance Technicians | $39,450 | $44,130 | 60 | $18/hr |
| 55 | Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | $39,320 | $41,510 | 360 | $18/hr |
| 56 | Furniture Finishers | $39,140 | $40,740 | 30 | $18/hr |
| 57 | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,060 | $39,980 | 190 | $18/hr |
| 58 | Food Batchmakers | $38,990 | $40,300 | 2,120 | $18/hr |
| 59 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $38,960 | $42,420 | 140 | $18/hr |
| 60 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,910 | $41,350 | 520 | $18/hr |
| 61 | Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | $38,410 | $45,320 | 160 | $18/hr |
| 62 | Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $38,120 | $42,850 | 140 | $18/hr |
| 63 | Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | $38,090 | $40,730 | 270 | $18/hr |
| 64 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,980 | $38,360 | 9,030 | $18/hr |
| 65 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,800 | $37,660 | 2,140 | $18/hr |
| 66 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,740 | $40,230 | 4,630 | $18/hr |
| 67 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $37,590 | $40,810 | 200 | $18/hr |
| 68 | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $37,490 | $38,680 | 90 | $18/hr |
| 69 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | $37,060 | $37,910 | 170 | $17/hr |
| 70 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,990 | $38,740 | 12,460 | $17/hr |
| 71 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $36,850 | $39,600 | 760 | $17/hr |
| 72 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $36,740 | $42,480 | 1,240 | $17/hr |
| 73 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $35,950 | $42,870 | 270 | $17/hr |
| 74 | Sewing Machine Operators | $35,630 | $35,640 | 860 | $17/hr |
| 75 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $35,620 | $37,280 | 190 | $17/hr |
| 76 | Helpers--Production Workers | $35,540 | $37,610 | 6,760 | $17/hr |
| 77 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | $34,380 | $34,860 | 1,290 | $16/hr |
| 78 | Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $30,990 | $32,570 | 80 | $14/hr |
| 79 | Bakers | $30,380 | $31,560 | 2,400 | $14/hr |
| 80 | Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $29,880 | $30,450 | 470 | $14/hr |
| 81 | Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $29,140 | $31,890 | 40 | $14/hr |
| 82 | Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $28,460 | $28,870 | 1,640 | $13/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across Arkansas:
Arkansas has 82 Production occupations with 109,430 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Production occupation in Arkansas is Power Distributors and Dispatchers with a median salary of $117,370/year.
The average median salary across 82 Production occupations in Arkansas is $46,615/year.
Salaries in Production in Arkansas range from $22,880 (entry-level) to $139,400 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Production occupations use SOC prefix 51. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 51* in Arkansas. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources