Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
California employs 699,910 Production professionals across 94 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Production industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Production in California, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Production industry in California, 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 | $137,570 | $144,010 | 670 | $66/hr |
| 2 | Gas Plant Operators | $130,220 | $120,680 | 800 | $62/hr |
| 3 | Power Plant Operators | $105,210 | $110,960 | 2,610 | $50/hr |
| 4 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $103,250 | $104,560 | 3,360 | $49/hr |
| 5 | Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | $92,960 | $97,030 | 260 | $44/hr |
| 6 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $90,650 | $91,010 | 5,840 | $43/hr |
| 7 | Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $89,010 | $84,560 | 930 | $42/hr |
| 8 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | $87,550 | $91,260 | 780 | $42/hr |
| 9 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $82,090 | $87,180 | 2,990 | $39/hr |
| 10 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $81,770 | $87,190 | 11,630 | $39/hr |
| 11 | Tool and Die Makers | $77,030 | $75,120 | 1,790 | $37/hr |
| 12 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $82,000 | 48,550 | $36/hr |
| 13 | Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | $74,490 | $74,020 | 480 | $35/hr |
| 14 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | $63,640 | $69,050 | 2,930 | $30/hr |
| 15 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $60,790 | $61,830 | 2,300 | $29/hr |
| 16 | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $60,180 | $59,980 | 2,600 | $28/hr |
| 17 | Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $59,250 | $61,470 | 750 | $28/hr |
| 18 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $59,050 | $62,490 | 1,960 | $28/hr |
| 19 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | $58,310 | $60,520 | 280 | $28/hr |
| 20 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,300 | $60,460 | 5,670 | $28/hr |
| 21 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,060 | $61,120 | 26,060 | $27/hr |
| 22 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | $57,590 | $58,160 | 3,420 | $27/hr |
| 23 | Machinists | $57,190 | $61,380 | 18,950 | $27/hr |
| 24 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $56,510 | $57,400 | 21,680 | $27/hr |
| 25 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $59,540 | 61,130 | $26/hr |
| 26 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | $53,860 | $55,580 | 2,020 | $25/hr |
| 27 | Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,950 | $58,030 | 11,570 | $25/hr |
| 28 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,910 | $59,240 | 14,210 | $25/hr |
| 29 | Medical Appliance Technicians | $51,530 | $56,610 | 1,300 | $24/hr |
| 30 | Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | $51,300 | $53,440 | 620 | $24/hr |
| 31 | Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,640 | $56,440 | 5,730 | $24/hr |
| 32 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,150 | $54,080 | 770 | $24/hr |
| 33 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $49,190 | $52,280 | 3,590 | $23/hr |
| 34 | Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,080 | $52,460 | 690 | $23/hr |
| 35 | Furniture Finishers | $49,080 | $51,670 | 1,010 | $23/hr |
| 36 | Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,030 | $53,030 | 7,360 | $23/hr |
| 37 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,940 | $53,170 | 2,290 | $23/hr |
| 38 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,730 | $51,600 | 5,570 | $23/hr |
| 39 | Upholsterers | $48,580 | $50,040 | 1,640 | $23/hr |
| 40 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,450 | $51,620 | 7,710 | $23/hr |
| 41 | Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,080 | $52,850 | 37,660 | $23/hr |
| 42 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,040 | $52,860 | 1,150 | $23/hr |
| 43 | Semiconductor Processing Technicians | $48,030 | $50,420 | 4,650 | $23/hr |
| 44 | Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | $47,750 | $50,520 | 850 | $22/hr |
| 45 | Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,730 | $51,250 | 30 | $22/hr |
| 46 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $51,060 | 98,390 | $22/hr |
| 47 | Dental Laboratory Technicians | $47,410 | $53,210 | 4,480 | $22/hr |
| 48 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | $47,410 | $54,790 | 1,630 | $22/hr |
| 49 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $47,390 | $47,980 | 3,230 | $22/hr |
| 50 | Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | $47,320 | $55,580 | 740 | $22/hr |
| 51 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,300 | $50,900 | 4,210 | $22/hr |
| 52 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,240 | $49,020 | 9,250 | $22/hr |
| 53 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $46,930 | $49,160 | 420 | $22/hr |
| 54 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | $46,810 | $53,010 | 1,170 | $22/hr |
| 55 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,810 | $49,660 | 3,190 | $22/hr |
| 56 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,760 | $47,610 | 5,600 | $22/hr |
| 57 | Etchers and Engravers | $46,480 | $51,150 | 1,040 | $22/hr |
| 58 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $46,370 | $46,570 | 3,530 | $22/hr |
| 59 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,110 | $47,580 | 3,080 | $22/hr |
| 60 | Printing Press Operators | $46,110 | $48,370 | 12,320 | $22/hr |
| 61 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,890 | $48,450 | 7,800 | $22/hr |
| 62 | Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,880 | $47,310 | 3,870 | $22/hr |
| 63 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,870 | $49,770 | 2,370 | $22/hr |
| 64 | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,600 | $46,450 | 1,630 | $21/hr |
| 65 | Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $45,390 | $46,390 | 1,590 | $21/hr |
| 66 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | $45,300 | $47,960 | 900 | $21/hr |
| 67 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $45,290 | $50,430 | 330 | $21/hr |
| 68 | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $45,150 | $46,330 | 2,450 | $21/hr |
| 69 | Tire Builders | $44,790 | $44,640 | 360 | $21/hr |
| 70 | Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,740 | $45,060 | 2,010 | $21/hr |
| 71 | Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,530 | $43,950 | 590 | $21/hr |
| 72 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $44,450 | $46,650 | 1,850 | $21/hr |
| 73 | Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $44,360 | $49,200 | 2,180 | $21/hr |
| 74 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,290 | $46,820 | 18,700 | $21/hr |
| 75 | Pourers and Casters, Metal | $44,150 | $45,450 | 240 | $21/hr |
| 76 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $46,050 | 43,430 | $21/hr |
| 77 | Helpers--Production Workers | $43,970 | $46,150 | 16,730 | $21/hr |
| 78 | Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,770 | $43,470 | 360 | $21/hr |
| 79 | Bakers | $43,120 | $44,130 | 30,020 | $20/hr |
| 80 | Sewers, Hand | $42,420 | $43,140 | 110 | $20/hr |
| 81 | Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $42,330 | $47,910 | 440 | $20/hr |
| 82 | Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | $42,100 | $46,700 | 310 | $20/hr |
| 83 | Food Batchmakers | $41,670 | $43,750 | 12,560 | $20/hr |
| 84 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $41,600 | $45,290 | N/A | $20/hr |
| 85 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,440 | $46,010 | 580 | $19/hr |
| 86 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,420 | $41,000 | 6,170 | $18/hr |
| 87 | Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $39,300 | $40,320 | 3,850 | $18/hr |
| 88 | Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,870 | $41,510 | 750 | $18/hr |
| 89 | Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $38,130 | $41,020 | 510 | $18/hr |
| 90 | Sewing Machine Operators | $37,940 | $41,060 | 13,240 | $18/hr |
| 91 | Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | $37,840 | $42,590 | 770 | $18/hr |
| 92 | Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,790 | $39,750 | 21,940 | $18/hr |
| 93 | Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $36,670 | $39,490 | 880 | $17/hr |
| 94 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,570 | $38,930 | 9,270 | $17/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across California:
California has 94 Production occupations with 699,910 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Production occupation in California is Power Distributors and Dispatchers with a median salary of $137,570/year.
The average median salary across 94 Production occupations in California is $53,975/year.
Salaries in Production in California range from $34,320 (entry-level) to $209,200 (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 California. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources