Helpers--Production Workers

Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Also called: Assembly Line Worker, Control Room Helper, Laminator Helper, Machine Helper, Machine Operator Helper, Press Helper, Press Room Helper, Production Helper, Slitter Helper, Welder Helper, Abrasive Mixer Helper, Aircraft Machinist Helper, Annealer Helper, Assembly Inspector Helper, Automatic Pad Making Machine Operator Helper, Automotive Painter Helper, Bag Machine Operator Helper, Baggage Handler, Bander Machine Helper, Barrel Assembler Helper, Barrel Charrer Helper, Barrel Cleaner, Barrel Drainer, Barrel Loader, Barrel Raiser Helper, Barrow Worker Helper, Beamer Helper, Beater Engineer Helper, Beater Room Helper, Bench Worker Helper, Bender Helper, Beveling Machine Operator Helper, Blast Furnace Helper, Blast Furnace Keeper Helper, Blender Helper, Blending Tank Helper, Blending Tank Tender Helper, Blow Down Helper, Boat Loader Helper, Boiler Helper, Boiler Room Helper, Boilermaker Helper, Bottler Helper, Box Blank Machine Operator Helper, Brass Molder Helper, Brewer Helper, Briquette Machine Operator Helper, Busher Helper, Butcher Helper, Buzzsaw Operator Helper, Cable Testers Helper, Cable Worker Helper, Cake Press Operator Helper, Calciner Operator Helper, Calender Let Off Helper, Calender Machine Operator Helper, Calender Operator Helper, Calender Wind Up Helper, Calender Worker Helper, Cane Weigher Helper, Car Dumper Operator Helper, Car Worker Helper, Carbon Furnace Operator Helper, Carton Forming Machine Helper, Caster Helper, Casting Machine Operator Helper, Casting Operator Helper, Casting Room Helper, Casting Wheel Operator Helper, Catalytic Converter Operator Helper, Catcher Helper, Cell Tender Helper, Cellophaner Machine Helper, Char Dust Cleaner, Char Dust Salvager, Char Filter Operator Helper, Charger Operator Helper, Charm Filter Operator Helper, Chemical Compounder Helper, Chopper, Chrome Plater Helper, Circular Sawyer Helper, Clarifier Operator Helper, Cloth Shrinking Machine Operators Helper, Coater Helper, Coating Machine Operator Helper, Cocoa Bean Roaster Helper, Commercial Baker Helper, Compounder Helper, Contact Acid Plant Operator Helper, Continuous Pickling Line Pickler Helper, Coppersmith Helper, Corrugator Helper, Corrugator Operator Helper, Cotton Ginner Helper, Covering Machine Operator Helper, Creping Machine Operator Helper, Crutcher Helper, Cupola Melter Helper, Cupola Tapper Helper, Cupola Tender Helper, Custom Feed Mill Operator Helper, Cutch Cleaner, Cutter Operator Helper, Cutting Machine Tender Helper, Cylinder Die Machine Helper, Digester Operator Helper, Distillery Miller Helper, Drawbench Operator Helper, Drawing in Machine Tender Helper, Drier Helper, Drier Operator Helper, Drill Press Operator Helper, Drip Box Tender, Driver Helper, Drop Forger Helper, Drop Hammer Operator Helper, Dry Kiln Operator Helper, Dry Press Operator Helper, Drying Unit Felting Machine Operator Helper, Dye Reel Operator Helper, Dye Weigher Helper, Edger Machine Helper, Edging Machine Operator Helper, Electrode Cleaner, Electroplater Helper, Engine House Helper, Engine Room Helper, Extractor Operator Helper, Extruder Operator Helper, Factory Helper, Fagot Heater Helper, Feed Mixer Helper, Felting Machine Operator Helper, Filter Tank Tender Helper, Filtering Machine Tender Helper, Flotation Tender Helper, Flour Blender Helper, Forge Helper, Forge Operator Helper, Forming Machine Upkeep Mechanic Helper, Foundry Helper, General Helper, Hammerer Helper, Hammersmith Helper, Hand Drawer-in Helper, Hand Etcher Helper, Hand Former Helper, Hand Spring Repairer Helper, Hardener Helper, Heat Treater Helper, Heater Engineer Helper, Heater Helper, Heater Room Helper, Heavy Forger Helper, Hot Metal Mixer Operator Helper, Hot Saw Helper, Hot Top Liner Helper, Ice Cream Freezer Helper, Impregnator Helper, Iron Molder Helper, Jig Builder Helper, Keeper Helper, Kiln Burner Helper, Kiln Operator Helper, Knitting Machine Operator Helper, Ladle Liner Helper, Larriman Helper, Lead Burner Helper, Lead Caster Helper, Leaf Conditioner Helper, Liner Machine Operator Helper, Liquefaction Helper, Liquor Bridge Operator Helper, Loading Dock Helper, Log Loader Helper, Loom Fixer Helper, Machine Hoop Maker Helper, Machinist Helper, Make Up Operator Helper, Manual Plate Filler, Manufacturing Assistant, Melter Helper, Metal Bonding Helper, Metal Fabricating Shop Helper, Metal Hanging Helper, Mill Operator Helper, Miller Helper, Milliner Helper, Millwright Helper, Mixer Helper, Mold Capper Helper, Mold Maker Helper, Molder Helper, Monorail Helper, Mud Mixer Helper, Multiple Drum Sander Helper, Naphthalene Operator Helper, Needle Punch Machine Operator Helper, Nut Process Helper, Oil Well Service Operator Helper, Open Hearth Helper, Operator Helper, Ornamental Metal Worker Helper, Oven Heater Helper, Paper Processing Machine Helper, Parachute Line Tier, Patcher Helper, Photostat Operator Helper, Picker Tender Helper, Pig Lead Melter Helper, Pig Machine Operator Helper, Piper Helper, Plater Helper, Pointer Helper, Pole Peeling Machine Operator Helper, Polymerization Helper, Press Worker Helper, Print Shop Helper, Printer Helper, Printer Slotter Helper, Processor Helper, Puddler Helper, Pug Mill Operator Helper, Pumper Helper, Purification Operator Helper, Radio Mechanic Helper, Reagent Tender Helper, Recovery Operator Helper, Reduction Furnace Operator Helper, Refinery Operator Helper, Regasification Helper, Reheater Helper, Retort Furnace Helper, Rigger Helper, Riveter Helper, Rod and Tube Straightener, Roller Helper, Rolling Mill Operator Helper, Roof Cement and Paint Maker Helper, Rotary Shear Worker Helper, Rougher Helper, Rug Cutter Helper, Rug Dyer Helper, Rug Inspector Helper, Sawyer Helper, Scorer Helper, Screen Printer Helper, Screen Printing Cloth Spreader, Screen Printing Machine Operator Helper, Screen Tender Helper, Section Hand Helper, Service Worker Helper, Setter Helper, Shactor Helper, Shear Grinder Operator Helper, Shear Helper, Shear Operator Helper, Shearer Helper, Sheet Heater Helper, Sheet Metal Helper, Shipfitter Helper, Shipping Room Helper, Signal Worker Helper, Skein Yarn Dyer Helper, Slasher Tender Helper, Slat Basket Maker Helper, Slice Plug Cutter Operator Helper, Slime Plant Operator Helper, Slitter Creaser Slotter Helper, Slitting Machine Operator Helper, Slotter Operator Helper, Soaker Helper, Socket Welder Helper, Spar Machine Operator Helper, Spiral Tube Winder Helper, Splicer Helper, Splitting Machine Operator Helper, Spout Liner Helper, Spray Painter Helper, Station Helper, Steel Pourer Helper, Still Operator Helper, Still Worker Helper, Stitch Bonder Machine Operator Helper, Stitch Bonding Machine Tender Helper, Stone Driller Helper, Stopper Maker Helper, Stranding Machine Operator Helper, Stretcher Helper, Stretcher Leveler Operator Helper, Substation Operator Helper, Switchboard Wire Worker Helper, Syrup Mixer Assistant, Syrup Mixer Helper, Tablet Making Machine Operator Helper, Tailor Helper, Tailor's Aide, Tank House Operator Helper, Tank Setter Helper, Tapper Helper, Test Department Helper, Tester Operator Helper, Tinsmith Helper, Tomb Maker Helper, Toolmaker Helper, Toolroom Helper, Top Precipitator Operator Helper, Treater Helper, Treating Engineer Helper, Trimmer Helper, Tube Cleaner, Tube Machine Operator Helper, Tuber Machine Operator Helper, Tumbler Machine Operator Helper, Varnish Melter Helper, Veneer Clipper Helper, Veneer Jointer Helper, Vessel Scrapper Helper, Wallpaper Printer Helper, Wash Oil Pump Operator Helper, Washer Engineer Helper, Washtub Worker Helper, Wire Weaver Helper, Woodworker Helper, Wrapping Machine Helper, Yarn Mercerizer Operator Helper

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Lift raw materials, finished products, and packed items, manually or using hoists.
Mark or tag identification on parts.
Observe equipment operations so that malfunctions can be detected, and notify operators of any malfunctions.
Count finished products to determine if product orders are complete.
Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards.
Operate machinery used in the production process, or assist machine operators.
Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
Remove products, machine attachments, or waste material from machines.
Separate products according to weight, grade, size, or composition of materials used to produce them.
Pack and store materials and products.

Skills, machines and equipment

Active Listening
Monitoring
Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Quality Control Analysis
Social Perceptiveness
Coordination
Active Learning
Equipment Maintenance

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (34.56% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

35,220–45,990 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9198.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (34.56% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Helpers--Production Workers