Helpers--Production Workers
51-9198.00

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

Sample of reported job titles: Helper, Material Handler, Press Helper

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
  • Operate machinery used in the production process, or assist machine operators.
  • Place products in equipment or on work surfaces for further processing, inspecting, or wrapping.
  • Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards.
  • Start machines or equipment to begin production processes.
  • Observe equipment operations so that malfunctions can be detected, and notify operators of any malfunctions.
  • Remove products, machine attachments, or waste material from machines.
  • Lift raw materials, finished products, and packed items, manually or using hoists.
  • Transfer finished products, raw materials, tools, or equipment between storage and work areas of plants and warehouses, by hand or using hand trucks or powered lift trucks.
  • Pack and store materials and products.
  • Help production workers by performing duties of lesser skill, such as supplying or holding materials or tools, or cleaning work areas and equipment.
  • Count finished products to determine if product orders are complete.
  • Measure amounts of products, lengths of extruded articles, or weights of filled containers to ensure conformance to specifications.
  • Separate products according to weight, grade, size, or composition of materials used to produce them.
  • Turn valves to regulate flow of liquids or air, to reverse machines, to start pumps, or to regulate equipment.
  • Mark or tag identification on parts.
  • Mix ingredients according to specified procedures or formulas.
  • Tie products in bundles for further processing or shipment, following prescribed procedures.
  • Record information, such as the number of products tested, meter readings, or dates and times of product production.
  • Read gauges or charts, and record data obtained.
  • Unclamp and hoist full reels from braiding, winding, or other fabricating machines, using power hoists.
  • Signal coworkers to direct them to move products during the production process.
  • Clean and lubricate equipment.
  • Prepare raw materials for processing.
  • Perform minor repairs to machines, such as replacing damaged or worn parts.
  • Attach slings, ropes, or cables to objects such as pipes, hoses, or bundles.
  • Position spouts or chutes of storage bins so that containers can be filled.
  • Wash work areas, machines, equipment, vehicles, or products.
  • Break up defective products for reprocessing.
  • Cut or break flashing from materials or products.

back to top

Technology Skills

Hot technology
Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings.

back to top

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

back to top

Detailed Work Activities

back to top

Work Context

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 96% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 64% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 63% responded “Every day.”
  • Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 62% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 64% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Time Pressure — 47% responded “Every day.”
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 40% responded “Very important.”
  • Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment — 39% responded “Very important.”
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 50% responded “Very important.”
  • Contact With Others — 39% responded “Constant contact with others.”
  • Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled — 57% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Standing — 49% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Duration of Typical Work Week — 54% responded “40 hours.”
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 60% responded “Some freedom.”
  • Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — 43% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Exposed to Contaminants — 59% responded “Every day.”
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 42% responded “Every day.”
  • Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — 52% responded “Every day.”
  • Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings — 46% responded “Every day.”
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 50% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 61% responded “Some freedom.”
  • Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 27% responded “Very important.”
  • Physical Proximity — 45% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
  • Spend Time Walking and Running — 27% responded “More than half the time.”
  • Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 26% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Consequence of Error — 27% responded “Serious.”
  • Coordinate or Lead Others — 39% responded “Important.”
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 25% responded “Minor results.”

back to top

Experience Requirements

Job Zone

Title
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
SVP Range
(4.0 to < 6.0)

back to top

Training & Credentials

State training
Local training
Certifications

back to top

Apprenticeship Opportunities

Start your career and build your skillset. Visit Apprenticeship.gov external site to learn about opportunities related to this occupation.

back to top

Worker Requirements

Skills

No skills met the minimum score.

back to top

Knowledge

  • Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

back to top

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:

  • 49%
     
    responded: High school diploma or equivalent requiredmore info
  • 32%
     
    responded: Less than high school diploma required
  • 18%
     
    responded: Post-secondary certificate required

back to top

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Static Strength — The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Extent Flexibility — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Stamina — The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.

back to top

Interests

Interest code: RC
Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
  • Realistic — Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
  • Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

back to top

Work Values

  • Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

back to top

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  • Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
  • Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  • Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  • Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
  • Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

back to top

Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2023)
$17.65 hourly, $36,700 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2023)
183,500 employees
Projected growth (2023-2033)
Decline (-1% or lower)
Projected job openings (2023-2033)
25,900
State trends
Top industries (2023)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 wage data external site and 2023-2033 employment projections external site. “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2023-2033). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

back to top

Job Openings on the Web

State job openings
Local job openings

back to top

More Information

back to top

Professional Associations

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

National Associations

back to top