First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.
Also called: Assembly Supervisor · Line Supervisor · Manufacturing Supervisor · Molding Supervisor · Plant Supervisor · Production Manager
Median pay (national)
$71,190
$45,790–$106,960 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
685,140
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.2%
~67,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for first-line supervisors of production and operating workers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $106,960 versus $45,790 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $71,190 leaves roughly 50% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 67,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Wyoming pays the most for this role (median $88,060, +24% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $38,970 — a 126% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules, and other records and reports to determine production requirements and to evaluate current production estimates and outputs.
- Confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances.
- Calculate labor and equipment requirements and production specifications, using standard formulas.
- Maintain operations data, such as time, production, and cost records, and prepare management reports of production results.
- Plan and develop new products and production processes.
- Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
- Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
- Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
- Plan and establish work schedules, assignments, and production sequences to meet production goals.
- Confer with other supervisors to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- SAP software
- Apple Safari
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Extensible markup language XML
- Kronos Workforce Timekeeper
- Mozilla Firefox
- Apple iWork Pages
- Aptean Made2Manage
- Bowen & Groves M1 ERP
- Capterra Enterprise Resource Planning
- Database software
- Delphi Technology
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Mechanical