Production: S-Corp Reasonable Salary Benchmarks
105 occupations, with medians from $34,890 to $122,890. 17 of them clear $60,000, roughly the point at which an S-corp election starts repaying its own overhead.
Production work is measured in output and shift hours, and much of the profit in a production business is plant and equipment rather than the owner's labour. That capital argument is real here in a way it is not for professional services.
| Occupation | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | $109,440 | $122,890 | $130,490 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $90,200 | $106,730 | $130,940 |
| Power Plant Operators | $79,690 | $102,040 | $119,080 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $77,510 | $96,710 | $106,320 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $76,870 | $87,820 | $100,870 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $63,160 | $78,620 | $101,150 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $60,330 | $78,120 | $98,660 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $58,630 | $74,450 | $91,680 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $58,270 | $68,120 | $81,890 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | $58,600 | $65,380 | $83,410 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $51,490 | $64,050 | $78,770 |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | $50,910 | $63,870 | $79,470 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | $47,360 | $63,340 | $86,740 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $42,620 | $62,750 | $93,930 |
| Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters | $29,040 | $62,620 | $72,740 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $48,900 | $62,470 | $78,480 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $48,040 | $60,020 | $74,780 |
| Machinists (below the S-corp threshold) | $47,570 | $58,750 | $67,700 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $45,970 | $58,040 | $74,080 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $49,070 | $58,000 | $69,960 |
| Tire Builders (below the S-corp threshold) | $47,900 | $57,390 | $64,380 |
| Model Makers, Wood (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,660 | $56,550 | $87,150 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $46,080 | $54,430 | $62,810 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (below the S-corp threshold) | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (below the S-corp threshold) | $45,230 | $53,710 | $74,920 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $45,210 | $52,800 | $64,900 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,520 | $52,540 | $69,810 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal (below the S-corp threshold) | $45,190 | $51,810 | $61,700 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $44,410 | $51,610 | $63,930 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technicians (below the S-corp threshold) | $45,640 | $51,430 | $65,010 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (below the S-corp threshold) | $45,610 | $51,330 | $61,250 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (below the S-corp threshold) | $44,930 | $50,690 | $61,760 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $43,250 | $50,620 | $60,700 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $44,920 | $50,270 | $60,180 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $44,020 | $50,140 | $61,880 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,800 | $50,060 | $62,150 |
| Patternmakers, Wood (below the S-corp threshold) | $41,170 | $49,630 | $59,350 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,420 | $49,610 | $62,070 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $41,710 | $49,080 | $57,940 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $42,440 | $49,030 | $60,130 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $42,850 | $48,990 | $59,860 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,660 | $48,750 | $58,400 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,930 | $48,690 | $58,580 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,890 | $48,570 | $61,440 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,430 | $48,540 | $60,040 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,590 | $48,250 | $59,680 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (below the S-corp threshold) | $42,050 | $48,220 | $58,770 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers (below the S-corp threshold) | $41,870 | $48,110 | $57,350 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $41,130 | $48,040 | $59,830 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians (below the S-corp threshold) | $42,210 | $48,030 | $60,580 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,560 | $47,920 | $57,390 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $40,450 | $47,720 | $56,840 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,420 | $47,180 | $57,800 |
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,430 | $46,880 | $54,490 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters (below the S-corp threshold) | $38,830 | $46,680 | $55,760 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,440 | $46,570 | $53,800 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,390 | $46,550 | $54,290 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,220 | $46,460 | $53,610 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,360 | $46,350 | $57,280 |
| Upholsterers (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,340 | $46,340 | $54,580 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $38,870 | $46,330 | $55,410 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,280 | $46,170 | $53,000 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other (below the S-corp threshold) | $39,190 | $45,950 | $54,100 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (below the S-corp threshold) | $38,380 | $45,850 | $51,670 |
| Printing Press Operators (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,390 | $45,780 | $55,740 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $38,360 | $45,760 | $52,580 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,540 | $44,810 | $50,680 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,380 | $44,650 | $51,200 |
| Furniture Finishers (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,670 | $44,540 | $49,730 |
| Woodworkers, All Other (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,320 | $44,530 | $55,180 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,270 | $44,350 | $51,020 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,260 | $43,960 | $49,600 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,310 | $43,530 | $49,320 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,100 | $43,380 | $48,720 |
| Etchers and Engravers (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,400 | $43,310 | $53,050 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,850 | $43,220 | $49,070 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,510 | $42,770 | $48,620 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,450 | $42,660 | $49,980 |
| Food Batchmakers (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,350 | $42,290 | $49,670 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,910 | $42,290 | $49,130 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers (below the S-corp threshold) | $35,230 | $41,640 | $50,200 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $37,030 | $41,600 | $50,360 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,190 | $41,590 | $47,380 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,380 | $41,330 | $49,550 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators (below the S-corp threshold) | $35,170 | $40,610 | $50,150 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters (below the S-corp threshold) | $35,510 | $40,140 | $48,050 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,150 | $40,130 | $46,870 |
| Production Workers, All Other (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,030 | $40,110 | $49,010 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,410 | $39,680 | $44,130 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,390 | $39,530 | $45,220 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,470 | $39,460 | $47,010 |
| Helpers--Production Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $35,220 | $39,070 | $45,990 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $34,230 | $38,760 | $45,220 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $36,420 | $38,670 | $42,940 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers (below the S-corp threshold) | $35,350 | $38,300 | $44,170 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $35,680 | $38,180 | $45,280 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (below the S-corp threshold) | $34,050 | $38,020 | $47,850 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers (below the S-corp threshold) | $31,270 | $37,800 | $45,670 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other (below the S-corp threshold) | $34,320 | $37,280 | $44,620 |
| Bakers (below the S-corp threshold) | $32,660 | $37,160 | $44,360 |
| Sewing Machine Operators (below the S-corp threshold) | $31,960 | $36,670 | $42,830 |
| Sewers, Hand (below the S-corp threshold) | $33,330 | $36,480 | $40,720 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders (below the S-corp threshold) | $29,090 | $35,650 | $43,090 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials (below the S-corp threshold) | $29,870 | $35,060 | $37,940 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (below the S-corp threshold) | $30,360 | $34,890 | $37,560 |
What is a reasonable salary for a production S-corp owner?
It depends on the specific occupation, which is why the table lists all 105 separately instead of giving one number for the group. 17 carry a median at or above $60,000, roughly where an S-corp election starts repaying its overhead. Medians here run $34,890 to $122,890.
National figures, and a percentile is evidence rather than an answer.Model your own state and profit, or see all occupation groups.