Potters, Manufacturing Career, Salary and Skills
Potters, Manufacturing have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $46,170 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 33,190. Wage data is published for 179 locations.
Occupation description
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
O*NET code
51-9195.05
Job zone
3
Typical education
Some College Courses
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$46,170
Hourly median
$22.20
Employment
33,190
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Operation and Control | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.88 | 2.50 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 2.62 | 2.50 |
Typical tasks
- Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns.
- Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
- Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
- Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
- Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
- Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
- Attach handles to pottery pieces.
- Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
Technology
- Inventory control software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
Potters, Manufacturing salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in CAMedian $49,190 · Employment 3,590
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in TXMedian $40,010 · Employment 2,550
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in FLMedian $45,030 · Employment 2,410
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in PAMedian $45,310 · Employment 1,690
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in OHMedian $44,560 · Employment 1,560
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in INMedian $46,400 · Employment 1,520
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in MIMedian $45,250 · Employment 1,470
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in ILMedian $47,180 · Employment 1,230
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in MAMedian $50,550 · Employment 1,200
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in NYMedian $45,940 · Employment 1,150
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in WAMedian $51,780 · Employment 1,130
- Potters, Manufacturing Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $47,640 · Employment 970
Related careers
- Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersNational median $51,330
- Patternmakers, WoodNational median $49,630
- Pourers and Casters, MetalNational median $51,810
- Model Makers, WoodNational median $56,550
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $46,550
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and SharpenersNational median $50,060
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $49,030
- Patternmakers, Metal and PlasticNational median $58,000
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.