High paying production jobs in Elkhart-Goshen, IN with no degree

The best paid production occupations in Elkhart-Goshen, IN that require no bachelor's degree — a high school diploma, a certificate, or an associate's degree is the typical entry. This is the narrowest cut on the site, so it is also the shortest list: where a field has only two or three such occupations, there is no page at all rather than a page pretending otherwise.

Cost of living: prices in Elkhart-Goshen, IN run 9.7% below the national average (2024), so a Elkhart-Goshen, IN salary is worth about 1.11× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find production jobs in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

OccupationMedian, Elkhart-Goshen, IN · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$65,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,360 – $105,5402,300
2Tool and Die Makers$62,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,490 – $78,750180
3Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$62,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,190 – $88,89090
4Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,160 – $71,16060
5Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$59,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $74,250190
6Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$50,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,780 – $80,0802,000
7Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$49,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $64,200410
8Machinists$49,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,560 – $71,320590
9Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers$49,610
No formal educational credential
$43,940 – $57,20060
10Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,100 – $62,87050
11Food Batchmakers$48,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,100 – $52,320200
12Furniture Finishers$48,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,850 – $80,090310
13Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators$47,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,530 – $70,0401,050
14Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $68,1201,970
15Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,800 – $62,600290
16Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $66,810310
17Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $50,740240
18Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $60,460220
19Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,780 – $60,9401,400
20Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$47,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,470 – $63,40090
21Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$46,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,560 – $88,58018,960
22Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$46,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,240 – $58,080830
23Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $60,010250
24Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,980 – $62,220140
25Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$46,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,740 – $49,62060
26Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,480 – $62,8701,830
27Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$46,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,780 – $48,52040
28Foundry Mold and Coremakers$46,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,610 – $59,89050
29Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $53,690350
30Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,170 – $56,610790
31Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$45,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,400 – $63,390280
32Upholsterers$45,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,880 – $58,270230
33Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$45,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,570 – $59,710230
34Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,910 – $55,830230
35Printing Press Operators$45,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,830 – $62,410160
36Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$44,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,300 – $61,8201,070
37Production Workers, All Other$44,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$18,480 – $49,780200
38Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,220 – $60,320530
39Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,550 – $55,99090
40Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$41,740
No formal educational credential
$22,330 – $49,39070
41Sewing Machine Operators$40,130
No formal educational credential
$32,820 – $48,780470
42Print Binding and Finishing Workers$39,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,270 – $49,23040
43Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,890 – $55,38060
44Slaughterers and Meat Packers$39,070
No formal educational credential
$34,260 – $45,410100
45Butchers and Meat Cutters$38,990
No formal educational credential
$29,340 – $50,69060
46Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$38,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $57,490560
47Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$38,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,770 – $50,860440
48Helpers--Production Workers$38,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,000 – $50,770210
49Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders$38,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,850 – $52,080130
50Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$38,300
No formal educational credential
$28,990 – $46,16070

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianElkhart-Goshen, IN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,150	$48,360 – $105,540	2,300
2	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,540	$45,490 – $78,750	180
3	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,020	$49,190 – $88,890	90
4	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,790	$41,160 – $71,160	60
5	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,040	$47,690 – $74,250	190
6	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,950	$39,780 – $80,080	2,000
7	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,960	$39,520 – $64,200	410
8	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,910	$41,560 – $71,320	590
9	Painting, Coating, and Decorating WorkersNo formal educational credential	$49,610	$43,940 – $57,200	60
10	Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,480	$29,100 – $62,870	50
11	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,250	$31,100 – $52,320	200
12	Furniture FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,030	$34,850 – $80,090	310
13	Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,960	$38,530 – $70,040	1,050
14	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,950	$35,830 – $68,120	1,970
15	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,940	$39,800 – $62,600	290
16	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,920	$36,440 – $66,810	310
17	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,840	$38,210 – $50,740	240
18	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,440	$42,220 – $60,460	220
19	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,320	$33,780 – $60,940	1,400
20	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,160	$32,470 – $63,400	90
21	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,960	$22,560 – $88,580	18,960
22	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,900	$37,240 – $58,080	830
23	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,890	$37,860 – $60,010	250
24	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,750	$37,980 – $62,220	140
25	Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,320	$42,740 – $49,620	60
26	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,240	$26,480 – $62,870	1,830
27	Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,160	$42,780 – $48,520	40
28	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,110	$37,610 – $59,890	50
29	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,860	$37,490 – $53,690	350
30	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,620	$37,170 – $56,610	790
31	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,610	$38,400 – $63,390	280
32	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,590	$34,880 – $58,270	230
33	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,490	$36,570 – $59,710	230
34	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,330	$37,910 – $55,830	230
35	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,140	$31,830 – $62,410	160
36	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,790	$36,300 – $61,820	1,070
37	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,450	$18,480 – $49,780	200
38	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,880	$29,220 – $60,320	530
39	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,420	$36,550 – $55,990	90
40	Cutters and Trimmers, HandNo formal educational credential	$41,740	$22,330 – $49,390	70
41	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$40,130	$32,820 – $48,780	470
42	Print Binding and Finishing WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,500	$34,270 – $49,230	40
43	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,230	$35,890 – $55,380	60
44	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$39,070	$34,260 – $45,410	100
45	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$38,990	$29,340 – $50,690	60
46	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,810	$36,400 – $57,490	560
47	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,510	$28,770 – $50,860	440
48	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,490	$20,000 – $50,770	210
49	Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,340	$36,850 – $52,080	130
50	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$38,300	$28,990 – $46,160	70

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Elkhart-Goshen, IN. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Elkhart-Goshen, IN to rank honestly.

High paying production jobs in Elkhart-Goshen, IN with no degree

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