Salary guide, May 2025
Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Production Workers, All Other in the United States was $40,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $36,030 and $49,010.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other
The Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31,200 | $36,030 | $40,110 | $49,010 | $61,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $17.32 | $19.29 | $23.56 | $29.58 |
BLS estimated 251,700 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,100 | $32,300 to $47,630 | 2,860 | 0.63 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,790 | $30,470 to $42,850 | 2,220 | 0.95 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,370 | $31,130 to $38,680 | 1,330 | 0.58 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $39,510 | $32,670 to $55,860 | 2,400 | 1.99 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $40,610 | $37,130 to $48,340 | 4,740 | 0.31 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $40,610 | $37,130 to $48,340 | 4,740 | 0.31 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $39,540 | $35,030 to $46,560 | 6,150 | 0.94 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $41,250 | $37,600 to $49,750 | 4,810 | 0.66 |
Rank every metro for Production Trainer (OJT Trainer)
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324000)$58,900
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (NAICS 312000)$51,710
- Paper Manufacturing (NAICS 322000)$50,430
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$49,800
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$48,900
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$47,450
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$46,580
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$46,470
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$46,470
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$45,600
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS 332000)$45,440
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$44,550
- Textile Product Mills (NAICS 314000)$43,560
- Printing and Related Support Activities (NAICS 323000)$42,540
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$42,190
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 121,680 | $37,240 | $45,600 | $54,890 |
| 311000 · 3-digit | Food Manufacturing | 15,310 | $36,200 | $41,680 | $50,710 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 14,200 | $36,940 | $45,600 | $51,560 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 10,490 | $37,960 | $44,550 | $50,150 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 10,490 | $37,370 | $45,440 | $51,930 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 10,020 | $37,790 | $46,470 | $58,610 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 8,790 | $36,030 | $40,240 | $46,950 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 8,420 | $37,220 | $43,720 | $48,740 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 7,940 | $34,770 | $42,190 | $51,100 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 7,690 | $38,340 | $46,580 | $56,710 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 7,130 | $39,820 | $47,450 | $56,130 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 6,580 | $38,100 | $47,300 | $56,820 |
| 322000 · 3-digit | Paper Manufacturing | 6,060 | $38,510 | $50,430 | $62,040 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 6,010 | $43,160 | $49,800 | $54,890 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 5,820 | $42,320 | $48,900 | $59,510 |
| 321000 · 3-digit | Wood Product Manufacturing | 5,630 | $34,680 | $39,360 | $48,850 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 5,500 | $35,030 | $40,910 | $49,540 |
| 322200 · 4-digit | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 4,140 | $36,980 | $46,690 | $56,040 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 3,830 | $41,350 | $46,470 | $53,510 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3,810 | $39,440 | $47,700 | $54,250 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3,810 | $45,340 | $54,890 | $54,890 |
| 311600 · 4-digit | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 3,590 | $36,040 | $36,460 | $43,610 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3,200 | $36,680 | $45,580 | $55,840 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3,190 | $39,940 | $47,040 | $56,020 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 3,050 | $35,540 | $39,350 | $48,700 |
| 321900 · 4-digit | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 2,950 | $31,110 | $38,270 | $49,030 |
| 325400 · 4-digit | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 2,790 | $40,700 | $47,850 | $57,160 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 2,520 | $34,650 | $45,780 | $62,000 |
| 323000 · 3-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 2,490 | $37,530 | $42,540 | $46,230 |
| 323100 · 4-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 2,490 | $37,530 | $42,540 | $46,230 |
| 3370A1 · 4-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 2,490 | $35,540 | $38,660 | $47,480 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 2,440 | $34,370 | $44,060 | $59,120 |
| 311900 · 4-digit | Other Food Manufacturing | 2,410 | $37,720 | $41,360 | $46,550 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 2,080 | $33,960 | $37,940 | $46,270 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 2,070 | $40,050 | $46,300 | $62,340 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 2,010 | $39,640 | $46,040 | $53,510 |
| 311400 · 4-digit | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 1,960 | $35,940 | $42,230 | $50,670 |
| 311200 · 4-digit | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,940 | $47,250 | $58,050 | $61,780 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 1,930 | $46,970 | $59,620 | $79,120 |
| 322100 · 4-digit | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 1,920 | $57,660 | $68,720 | $84,420 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,840 | $43,550 | $50,980 | $65,200 |
| 311800 · 4-digit | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 1,800 | $34,820 | $39,410 | $49,470 |
| 324000 · 3-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,710 | $44,600 | $58,900 | $66,420 |
| 324100 · 4-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,710 | $44,600 | $58,900 | $66,420 |
| 3250A2 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 1,700 | $37,870 | $44,590 | $54,900 |
| 321200 · 4-digit | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,690 | $38,170 | $45,740 | $50,450 |
| 311500 · 4-digit | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 1,500 | $48,450 | $55,190 | $63,540 |
| 331500 · 4-digit | Foundries | 1,490 | $36,200 | $47,900 | $56,810 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,420 | $35,270 | $39,420 | $50,660 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 1,400 | $38,550 | $48,520 | $56,690 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 1,310 | $42,890 | $47,480 | $60,980 |
| 312000 · 3-digit | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 1,230 | $42,590 | $51,710 | $65,420 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 1,210 | $44,630 | $49,990 | $59,510 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 1,170 | $35,260 | $39,350 | $48,970 |
| 312100 · 4-digit | Beverage Manufacturing | 1,130 | $41,190 | $51,710 | $63,430 |
| 313000 · 3-digit | Textile Mills | 1,080 | $35,350 | $38,690 | $44,880 |
| 311700 · 4-digit | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 990 | $28,620 | $28,620 | $29,890 |
| 321100 · 4-digit | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 980 | $32,260 | $38,060 | $41,790 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 980 | $37,170 | $44,770 | $52,360 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 940 | $44,620 | $50,570 | $62,390 |
| 336900 · 4-digit | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 890 | $44,480 | $50,270 | $63,070 |
| 331300 · 4-digit | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 800 | $39,610 | $46,700 | $57,420 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 710 | $39,600 | $44,730 | $52,460 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 710 | $43,160 | $46,170 | $47,020 |
| 311300 · 4-digit | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 680 | $37,440 | $45,600 | $50,930 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 570 | $39,900 | $58,420 | $74,340 |
| 337900 · 4-digit | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 570 | $40,150 | $51,970 | $57,640 |
| 313200 · 4-digit | Fabric Mills | 520 | $34,700 | $38,320 | $44,720 |
| 331200 · 4-digit | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 490 | $43,720 | $46,740 | $55,310 |
| 311100 · 4-digit | Animal Food Manufacturing | 440 | $34,830 | $36,080 | $46,360 |
| 313100 · 4-digit | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 340 | $37,160 | $38,880 | $48,120 |
| 315000 · 3-digit | Apparel Manufacturing | 330 | $33,000 | $36,760 | $38,270 |
| 314100 · 4-digit | Textile Furnishings Mills | 250 | $33,330 | $40,850 | $45,280 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 250 | $35,270 | $42,770 | $52,800 |
| 313300 · 4-digit | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 220 | $35,330 | $38,800 | $44,420 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 220 | $24,660 | $46,470 | $46,470 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 200 | $40,190 | $48,470 | $60,670 |
| 315200 · 4-digit | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 180 | $33,330 | $37,160 | $40,790 |
| 315900 · 4-digit | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 120 | $34,810 | $36,760 | $40,320 |
| 312200 · 4-digit | Tobacco Manufacturing | 110 | $58,960 | $77,630 | $80,350 |
| 336500 · 4-digit | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 100 | $36,120 | $39,570 | $49,360 |
| 334600 · 4-digit | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 90 | $36,410 | $41,410 | $42,510 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 90 | $39,380 | $39,730 | $45,260 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 70 | $39,080 | $46,630 | $64,990 |
| 316100 · 4-digit | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 50 | $37,450 | $43,850 | $45,720 |
| 315100 · 4-digit | Apparel Knitting Mills | 40 | $31,390 | $31,390 | $35,670 |
| 339910 · 5-digit | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 40 | $25,960 | $31,580 | $39,420 |
| 314000 · 3-digit | Textile Product Mills | Not published by BLS | $35,000 | $43,560 | $50,430 |
| 314900 · 4-digit | Other Textile Product Mills | Not published by BLS | $36,050 | $45,090 | $50,430 |
| 316000 · 3-digit | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $37,380 | $37,720 | $44,020 |
| 316900 · 4-digit | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $33,590 | $37,720 | $37,720 |
| 334300 · 4-digit | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $42,570 | $54,060 | $68,760 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Production Trainer (OJT Trainer), write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $35,080 | $38,820 | $47,550 |
| May 2025 | $36,030 | $40,110 | $49,010 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about a move that can hold up?
Someone working in production trainers and experienced operators who assess hands-on work needs a clear reason to leave. Explain how your opening changes their responsibility for on-the-job instruction and evidence that new operators can work safely. If the answer depends on authority over on-the-job instruction and evidence that new operators can work safely that you cannot offer, that mismatch belongs in the conversation before an offer.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Production Trainer (OJT Trainer)?
The median annual wage for Production Workers, All Other in the United States was $40,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $36,030 and $49,010. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $31,200. 90% earned less than $61,530.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) at a plant?
The Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 251,700 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
Production Technician pay Setup Technician pay Line Lead pay Skilled Machine Operator pay Utility / Relief Operator pay Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) role maps to SOC 51-9199, Production Workers, All Other. For Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $40,110; the May 2024 median is $38,820. Their arithmetic difference is $1,290.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle-band width is 12,980, with a 25th percentile of $36,030 and a 75th percentile of $49,010. As the BLS does not track OJT trainer as a unique position, this assessment relies on screening for demonstrated qualification instruction rather than simple attendance at training sessions.
For Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $40,110; the May 2024 median is $38,820. Their arithmetic difference is $1,290. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Manufacturing Headhunters observes that these rates are reflective of local market conditions and the demand for process knowledge. These cities serve as primary benchmarks for production roles, and the location quotients (1.1 in LA, 2.29 in Atlanta) provide context on the scale of industrial hiring in these regions.
National industry data shows significant benchmarks, with Tobacco Manufacturing, NAICS 312200, at $77,630, and Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills, NAICS 322100, at $68,720. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing, NAICS 336400, reports a median of $59,620. These industry figures are national and exclude the specific training premiums often found in manufacturing plants. Hiring managers should consider that BLS data omits variable items like trainer certifications or informal pay adjustments for process experts.
The middle-band width of 12,980 confirms that a significant portion of workers in this SOC grouping are paid within a relatively close margin. The May 2025 release provides this data without estimation. When hiring for an OJT trainer, distinguish between candidates with formal instruction experience and those who simply have production experience. The screening process must identify the ability to communicate process steps clearly. Rely on the percentiles to set an offer that recognizes both the production base and the additional value brought by effective training skills.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the Production Trainer role compare to the general SOC 51-9199 definition?
The SOC definition is broad and includes all production workers. We refine this by screening for OJT-specific skills, focusing on a candidate's ability to impart process knowledge rather than just their general production background.
What should I consider when setting an offer for a production trainer?
Consider the middle-band width of 12,980 to gauge competitive pay and ensure the offer accounts for the candidate's ability to train others effectively. Use the industry medians as a high-end reference for what similar production process experts earn.
Does the Atlanta location quotient mean the market is saturated?
The 2.29 location quotient indicates a high concentration of production jobs, which typically drives up local demand. It implies a high density of potential production talent rather than market saturation.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4