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Boston Career Explorer

Production

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

Median pay in Greater Boston
$43,240
$20.79/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,100
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−6.9%
310 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$35,360$36,160$43,240$47,510$58,080

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure8 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 5
  • Language-model AIOE 6
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 14

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for production helpers is lower, and observed AI use is some. Federal projections still expect fewer of these jobs because automation is replacing some helper work in factories. AI tools may help with counting and checking products, while lifting and watching equipment still rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Counting finished products for orders
  • Checking products against quality standards

Still relies on people

  • Lifting and moving materials and finished goods
  • Noticing equipment problems and alerting operators

What federal projections say

“Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as automation continues to replace production worker helpers in manufacturing facilities.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

    You already watch equipment for problems. Helper roles in installation and repair use that skill and add hands-on testing of machinery and parts.

    Pay difference
    +$2,520 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

    Moving materials through a facility carries over. Industrial truck operators need no formal credential, have short-term training, and the job is projected to grow 21.7% in Massachusetts.

    Pay difference
    +$4,560 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +21.7%
    To get started
    No formal educational credential

  • Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

    Checking product quality and assembling parts builds on your factory experience. Cabinetmaking has a higher median pay of $59,120 with moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$15,880 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +1.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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