Salary guide, May 2025
Utility / Relief Operator 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
Utility / Relief Operator is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 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 Utility / Relief Operator
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 Utility / Relief Operator, 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 the authority you are offering?
Settle verified qualification at each station rather than assuming general interchangeability before outreach begins. We put the difference around verified qualification at each station rather than assuming general interchangeability in front of you so the interview tests missing experience rather than assuming it is already there.
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 Utility / Relief Operator?
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 Utility / Relief Operator at a plant?
Utility / Relief Operator is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. 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 Production Trainer (OJT Trainer) pay Utility / Relief Operator pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Utility / Relief Operator recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
Utility / Relief Operator roles are included in the SOC 51-9199, Production Workers, All Other. For Utility / Relief Operator 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, defined by the 25th percentile ($36,030) and the 75th percentile ($49,010). Because BLS does not differentiate relief roles, we use a screening process that verifies station-specific qualifications to ensure the data is relevant to operators who rotate through critical process steps.
For Utility / Relief Operator 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 notes that these figures demonstrate the difference between regional pay environments for utility roles. The Atlanta area, with a location quotient of 2.29, highlights a high density of production work, which can impact local pay competitiveness for flexible relief staff.
National manufacturing industry data provides additional guidance. Tobacco Manufacturing, NAICS 312200, reports a median of $77,630. Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills, NAICS 322100, shows $68,720. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing, NAICS 336400, is at $59,620. These industry-specific figures are national averages and do not represent the local wage for relief roles. For Utility / Relief Operator in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
The middle-band width of 12,980 represents the core wage distribution for this occupation. The data is based on the May 2025 release and is presented without estimation. Rely on the provided percentiles to compare against current site pay for relief operators. Because SOC 51-9199 is a broad category, the most effective screening involves testing the operator's actual handoff and quality control knowledge rather than relying on a generalized title. Ensure that internal pay structures account for the specific station requirements of the role.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What is the most accurate way to screen a Utility / Relief Operator?
The best approach is to verify the candidate's qualification at each specific station they will cover. Our screening looks for successful station handoffs and adherence to process controls rather than assuming interchangeability.
How do regional differences affect the hiring of utility relief staff?
Regional pay reflects the local concentration of manufacturing roles, as seen in the differences between LA and Atlanta. High location quotients, such as 2.29 in Atlanta, indicate a competitive labor market for production operators.
Why are the industry-specific medians like Tobacco higher than the occupation's overall median?
Industry-specific medians reflect the specialized nature of those production environments. While they serve as a benchmark for high-pay production roles, they should be interpreted as national industry averages rather than local utility pay rates.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4