Industrial Production Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.
Also called: Area Plant Manager · Assembly Manager · General Production Manager · Manufacturing Coordinator · Manufacturing Manager · Plant Manager
Median pay (national)
$121,440
$74,900–$197,310 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
234,380
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.9%
~17,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for industrial production managers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $197,310 versus $74,900 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $121,440 leaves roughly 62% 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 +1.9% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 17,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 51 states with released data, Wyoming pays the most for this role (median $155,670, +28% vs the national median), while Idaho sits lowest at $101,830 — a 53% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring 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.
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
- Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
- Review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints.
- Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
- Hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.
- Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports to detect production problems.
- Prepare and maintain production reports or personnel records.
- Develop budgets or approve expenditures for supplies, materials, or human resources, ensuring that materials, labor, or equipment are used efficiently to meet production targets.
- Initiate or coordinate inventory or cost control programs.
- Review plans and confer with research or support staff to develop new products or processes.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- SAP software
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- ABB Optimize IT Predict & Control
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- AVEVA InTouch HMI
- Citect IIM
- CitectSCADA Reports
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Mechanical