Production · Holland code RC
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: Control Room Helper, Press Helper, Production Helper, Welder Helper, Assembly Line Worker, Laminator Helper, Machine Helper, Machine Operator Helper.
O*NET 51-9198.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $39,070
- Middle half earn $35,220 to $45,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- Less than a High School Diploma
- 35% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- 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.
- Prepare raw materials for processing.
- Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Active Listening2.8 / 5
- Monitoring2.8 / 5
- Reading Comprehension2.6 / 5
- Speaking2.6 / 5
- Critical Thinking2.6 / 5
- Active Learning2.1 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing3.4 / 5
- English Language3.0 / 5
- Mechanical2.9 / 5
- Administration and Management2.7 / 5
- Education and Training2.7 / 5
- Public Safety and Security2.6 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic92
- Investigative5
- Artistic2
- Social11
- Enterprising15
- Conventional57
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- brazier · DE Hartlöter/Hartlöterin · FR braseur/braseuse
- solderer · DE Löter/Löterin · FR braseur brasage tendre/braseuse brasage tendre
- sheet metal worker · DE Konstruktionsmechaniker Fachrichtung Feinblechbau/Konstruktionsmechanikerin Fachrichtung Feinblechbau · FR tôlier/ tôlière
- ground rigger · DE Veranstaltungsrigger für Arbeiten am Boden/Veranstaltungsriggerin für Arbeiten am Boden · FR monteur au sol/monteuse au sol
- greaser · DE Maschinenschmierer/Maschinenschmiererin · FR graisseur/graisseuse
- dryer attendant · DE Trocknerbediener/Trocknerbedienerin · FR préposé au séchoir/préposée au séchoir
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Welding trades (5213)49,800 employed
- Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c. (8149)26,300 employed
- Sheet metal workers (5211)10,400 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €40,086 |
| Germany | €38,638 |
| Austria | €38,194 |
| Sweden | €37,856 |
| Netherlands | €37,077 |
| Ireland | €36,098 |
| France | €27,145 |
| Italy | €26,488 |
| Spain | €22,817 |
| Portugal | €11,142 |
| Poland | €10,099 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -1.41. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (51-9198).
Related careers
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