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Helpers--Production Workers vs Helpers--Extraction Workers

Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index

A factual, source-backed comparison of Helpers--Production Workers and Helpers--Extraction Workers on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”

Helpers--Production Workers Helpers--Extraction Workers
Median pay · BLS OEWS
$38,220
$48,400
Employment · BLS OEWS
167,490
6,720
AI exposure (percentile) · task overlap, not automation
3rd pct
4th pct

At a glance

Dimension Helpers--Production Workers Helpers--Extraction Workers
Median pay $38,220 $48,400
Employment 167,490 6,720
Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection Declining (-8.9%) Declining (-1.7%)
Annual openings · BLS projection 23,600 700
Typical education · O*NET Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
AI exposure · published exposure studies Low · 3rd pct Low · 4th pct
Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk 8th pct · 12% of tasks 4th pct · 11% of tasks
Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index Automation-leaning (64.0%) —
Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman No No

Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.

Skills

Shared: Near Vision, Manual Dexterity, Control Precision, Static Strength, Trunk Strength, Problem Sensitivity, Information Ordering, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Finger Dexterity, Multilimb Coordination, Mechanical, Oral Comprehension, Perceptual Speed, Stamina, Extent Flexibility, Active Listening, Monitoring, Deductive Reasoning, Selective Attention, Far Vision, Depth Perception, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Visualization, Reaction Time, Auditory Attention, Mathematics, English Language, Coordination, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis.

Specific to Helpers--Production Workers

  • Oral Expression
  • Written Comprehension
  • Category Flexibility
  • Speech Recognition
  • Speaking
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Production and Processing
  • Reading Comprehension

Specific to Helpers--Extraction Workers

  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Troubleshooting
  • Repairing
  • Rate Control
  • Transportation
  • Equipment Selection
  • Response Orientation
  • Hearing Sensitivity

Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).

Tools & technology

Shared: Spreadsheet software , Office suite software , Electronic mail software , Word processing software .

Specific to Helpers--Production Workers

Specific to Helpers--Extraction Workers

    Full profiles

    This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Helpers--Production Workers or Helpers--Extraction Workers — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.

    More comparisons

    Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.

    Sources for this page

    Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

    Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

    Cite this page
    Plain

    Singulariki. "Helpers--Production Workers vs Helpers--Extraction Workers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/helpers-production-workers-vs-helpers-extraction-workers

    APA

    Singulariki. (2026). Helpers--Production Workers vs Helpers--Extraction Workers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/helpers-production-workers-vs-helpers-extraction-workers

    BibTeX 
    @misc{singulariki-helpers-production-workers-vs-helpers-extraction-workers,
  title  = {Helpers--Production Workers vs Helpers--Extraction Workers},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/compare/helpers-production-workers-vs-helpers-extraction-workers}
}

    Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.