Production Occupations careers
76 production occupations occupations from the O*NET database. Pick one to see what it involves and a typical path from entry level to leadership — or plan your own route with AI.
76 occupations
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersOperate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining ve…
- Assemblers and Fabricators, All OtherAll assemblers and fabricators not listed separately.
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and FilmOperate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.
- Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersOperate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devu…
- Chemical Plant and System OperatorsControl or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersOperate or tend machines to wash or clean products, such as barrels or kegs, glass items, tin plate, food, pulp, coal, plastic, or rubber, to remove …
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal…
- Communications Equipment Operators, All OtherAll communications equipment operators not listed separately.
- Continuous Mining Machine OperatorsOperate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the mine face and load it onto conveyors, sh…
- Conveyor Operators and TendersControl or tend conveyors or conveyor systems that move materials or products to and from stockpiles, processing stations, departments, or vehicles. …
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersOperate or tend equipment such as cooling and freezing units, refrigerators, batch freezers, and freezing tunnels, to cool or freeze products, food, …
- Crane and Tower OperatorsOperate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
- Crematory OperatorsOperate crematory equipment to reduce human or animal remains to bone fragments in accordance with state and local regulations. Duties may include pr…
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
- Derrick Operators, Oil and GasRig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.
- Dredge OperatorsOperate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials in order to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways.
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.
- Engine and Other Machine AssemblersConstruct, assemble, or rebuild machines, such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment used in such industries as construction, extraction, texti…
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningOperate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersSet up, operate, or tend machines that extrude and form continuous filaments from synthetic materials, such as liquid polymer, rayon, and fiberglass.
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware…
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersOperate or tend heating equipment other than basic metal, plastic, or food processing equipment. Includes activities such as annealing glass, drying …
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station OperatorsOperate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors. Transmit, compress, or recover gases, such as butane, nitrog…
- Gas Plant OperatorsDistribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or p…
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equ…
- Helpers--Production WorkersHelp production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and…
- Hoist and Winch OperatorsOperate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningOperate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power …
- Logging Equipment OperatorsDrive logging tractor or wheeled vehicle equipped with one or more accessories, such as bulldozer blade, frontal shear, grapple, logging arch, cable …
- MachinistsSet up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabri…
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersOperate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal befor…
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherAll motor vehicle operators not listed separately.
- Motorboat OperatorsOperate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities.
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersOperate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing…
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsOperate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping …
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersOperate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in stor…
- Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine OperatorsPerform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photog…
- Pile Driver OperatorsOperate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations …
- Plant and System Operators, All OtherAll plant and system operators not listed separately.
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend plating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect o…
- Potters, ManufacturingOperate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
- Power Plant OperatorsControl, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
- Printing Press OperatorsSet up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
- Production Workers, All OtherAll production workers not listed separately.
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive FirersOperate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for a…
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticSet up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of m…
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasSet up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodSet up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment. Includes lead sawyers.
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenti…
- Sewing Machine OperatorsOperate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
- Shoe Machine Operators and TendersOperate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, ManufacturingCut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.
- Subway and Streetcar OperatorsOperate subway or elevated suburban trains with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar, to transport passengers. May handle fares.
- Team AssemblersWork as part of a team having responsibility for assembling an entire product or component of a product. Team assemblers can perform all tasks conduc…
- Telephone OperatorsProvide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to…
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersOperate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend machines that wind or twist textiles; or draw out and combine sliver, such as wool, hemp, or synthetic fibers. Includes slub…
- Timing Device Assemblers and AdjustersPerform precision assembling or adjusting, within narrow tolerances, of timing devices such as digital clocks or timing devices with electrical or el…
- Underground Mining Machine Operators, All OtherAll underground mining machine operators not listed separately.
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsOperate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersUse hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fa…
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersSet up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or ass…
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingSet up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May oper…
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Occupations from the O*NET database, grouped by the words in their titles.
- Architecture and Engineering57 occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media34 occupations
- Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance12 occupations
- Business and Financial Operations32 occupations
- Community and Social Service28 occupations
- Computer and Mathematical120 occupations
- Construction and Extraction19 occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library41 occupations
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry8 occupations
- Food Preparation and Serving Related19 occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical35 occupations
- Healthcare Support Occupations16 occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair38 occupations
- Legal Occupations11 occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science42 occupations
- Management Occupations343 occupations
- Military Specific Occupations2 occupations
- Office and Administrative Support1 occupation
- Personal Care and Service Occupations7 occupations
- Protective Service Occupations28 occupations
- Sales and Related Occupations36 occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving11 occupations
How to use the career path visualizer
Start with the career family closest to your work, open an occupation and read what the role involves. Each occupation page shows a typical path from entry level to leadership and the kind of skills people build at each stage. When you know where you want to go, enter your current role, the role you want, your experience and your skills — AI builds a step-by-step route for Toulouges, with the roles in between, a rough time for each step, quick wins and risks.
Where the occupations come from
The occupations and their descriptions come from O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. We group them into broad career families using the words in each job title, so a few titles may sit in a family you would not expect. The descriptions are general: job titles, duties and required qualifications can be different in Toulouges.
Is the typical path based on real career data?
No. It is the general four-stage pattern — entry, experienced, lead, leadership — that most careers follow, shown the same way for every occupation. The time ranges are rough guides, not averages. For a route that reflects your own situation, use the AI planner.
How does the AI career plan work?
It uses your current role, the role you want, your years of experience and your skills. The AI is told where you are and not to invent salaries, statistics or guarantees. It is a suggestion to check against real job adverts and employers' requirements. Each plan uses one AI request from your plan's monthly allowance — see plans.
Can I save my plan and see it in the Expertini app?
Yes. Signed-in users can save any plan or occupation to "My saved paths". It is stored in your Expertini account, so it is on every device and in the Expertini app, and only you can see it.
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No account is needed to browse occupations and typical paths. Creating a free account lets you use the AI planner and save your paths.
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