All careers › First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Production supervisor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $47,130lowest 10% earn less
- $58,63025th percentile
- $74,450median
- $91,68075th percentile
- $108,750top 10% earn more
BLS groups production supervisors as First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. Their median pay was $74,450 a year in May 2025[1], and jobs are projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +1.8%[2]
- Openings per year
- 61,000[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do production supervisors make?
The median wage was $74,450 a year, or $35.79 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $76,600 a year, or $36.83 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4].
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,130 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $58,630[3]. The top-paid 25% earned more than $91,680, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $108,750[3]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $22.66 and the 90th was $52.28[8].
A percentile wage is a boundary line. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10].
Pay by state and city
Wyoming had the highest state median at $90,390, followed by Connecticut at $83,150 and Rhode Island at $81,650[11]. Arkansas was last in the list at $63,090[11].
Texas had the most jobs at 58,930, then California at 48,550 and Ohio at 31,980[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA had the highest median at $115,340, followed by Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT at $105,690[13]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the most jobs at 20,970, with a median of $76,500[14].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming[11] | $90,390 | 1,470 |
| Connecticut | $83,150 | 9,150 |
| Rhode Island | $81,650 | 2,660 |
| New Jersey | $81,110 | 15,040 |
| District of Columbia | $80,030 | 350 |
| Massachusetts | $79,920 | 12,390 |
| New Hampshire | $79,310 | 3,000 |
| Washington | $79,310 | 14,500 |
| Delaware | $79,100 | 1,450 |
| Maine | $78,970 | 2,970 |
| Colorado | $78,890 | 9,580 |
| New York | $78,580 | 20,830 |
| Minnesota | $78,550 | 13,380 |
| Maryland | $78,520 | 6,100 |
| Alaska | $77,960 | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $77,520 | 9,350 |
| South Carolina | $77,500 | 14,570 |
| California | $76,840 | 48,550 |
| North Dakota | $76,350 | 1,650 |
| Vermont | $75,540 | 1,000 |
| Arizona | $75,330 | 8,720 |
| Illinois | $75,200 | 29,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,990 | 28,900 |
| Wisconsin | $74,840 | 25,500 |
| Iowa | $74,750 | 10,130 |
| Kansas | $74,480 | 7,980 |
| Virginia | $74,150 | 13,530 |
| Indiana | $73,950 | 26,870 |
| Oregon | $73,580 | 8,180 |
| Missouri | $73,210 | 15,430 |
| Alabama | $73,060 | 20,670 |
| South Dakota | $73,040 | 1,930 |
| Kentucky | $72,490 | 13,820 |
| Nebraska | $72,200 | 6,040 |
| Michigan | $72,170 | 26,650 |
| Ohio | $72,160 | 31,980 |
| Hawaii | $71,990 | 1,500 |
| Utah | $71,220 | 9,040 |
| Idaho | $70,890 | 3,900 |
| Texas | $70,140 | 58,930 |
| Oklahoma | $70,000 | 9,570 |
| North Carolina | $69,640 | 22,240 |
| Georgia | $69,170 | 26,190 |
| West Virginia | $68,990 | 3,120 |
| Montana | $68,760 | 1,860 |
| Mississippi | $68,720 | 8,230 |
| Nevada | $68,270 | 3,600 |
| Tennessee | $65,310 | 18,960 |
| New Mexico | $64,640 | 2,520 |
| Florida | $63,950 | 27,710 |
| Arkansas | $63,090 | 11,000 |
How to become a production supervisor
BLS describes the typical path like this[6]:
- First: finish high school or earn an equivalent diploma[6].
- Next: build work experience in a related occupation. BLS says less than 5 years[6].
- Then: expect no typical on-the-job training[6].
O*NET asked workers what education their job requires. In a survey of 36 workers, 33% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 15% said some college courses, 14% said less than a high school diploma, 14% said an associate's degree, 12% said a bachelor's degree and 12% said a post-secondary certificate[15]. The survey is small, so treat it as a snapshot.
O*NET places the job in Job Zone Three, where previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience is required[16].
What production supervisors do
O*NET says these supervisors directly oversee and coordinate production and operating workers, such as inspectors, machine setters and operators, assemblers and plant operators. Team or work leaders are excluded[17]. Typical tasks include:
- Enforcing safety and sanitation rules[18].
- Keeping attendance and hours records for employees[18].
- Checking materials, products or equipment for defects or faults[18].
- Studying work orders, schedules and reports to see what production is needed[18].
- Setting schedules, assignments and production order to hit goals[18].
- Coordinating with other supervisors across departments[18].
- Explaining specifications, blueprints and company policies to workers[18].
- Training workers in equipment and safety, or assigning that training to experienced staff[18].
Workers report titles such as Line Supervisor, Plant Supervisor and Production Manager[19].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 679,900 to 692,300 jobs, a change of +12,400[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[20]. These counts include self-employed workers, who made up 0.7% of this group in 2025[2][21].
About 61,000 openings a year are projected on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings count jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.1% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[22].
The OEWS count of about 673,430 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[23] and the projections count above measure different things.
Is it a good fit?
Pay is above the all-occupations median, and BLS lists a high school diploma plus related experience as the typical way in[1][4][6]. Pay ranges from $47,130 at the 10th percentile to $108,750 at the 90th[3]. Growth of 1.8% is slower than the 3.5% for all occupations, yet about 61,000 openings a year are projected[2][20][5]. The task list points to hands-on work: checking quality, scheduling, safety and training[18].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a production supervisor make an hour?
- The median wage was $35.79 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $36.83 an hour[1][7].
- What education do you need to be a production supervisor?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical entry education, with less than 5 years of related work experience[6]. In an O*NET survey of 36 workers, 33% said a high school diploma[15].
- Is production supervisor in demand?
- Employment is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][20]. About 61,000 openings a year are projected[5].
- What is the highest paying state for production supervisors?
- Wyoming, with a median annual wage of $90,390 in May 2025[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers in the US was $74,450 per year and $35.79 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 679,900 to 692,300 jobs (a change of +12,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: 10th percentile $47,130, 25th percentile $58,630, 75th percentile $91,680, 90th percentile $108,750. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 61,000 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers was $76,600 per year and $36.83 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: 10th percentile $22.66, 25th percentile $28.19, 75th percentile $44.08, 90th percentile $52.28. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers jobs: Texas 58,930; California 48,550; Ohio 31,980; Illinois 29,640; Pennsylvania 28,900. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $115,340; Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $105,690; Lexington Park, MD $99,980; Baton Rouge, LA $95,810; Lake Charles, LA $92,560; Spartanburg, SC $92,070; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $91,500; Decatur, IL $91,450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 20,970 (median $76,500); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 19,220 (median $81,790); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 17,650 (median $74,740); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 16,880 (median $69,940); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 15,270 (median $75,330); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 11,730 (median $71,310). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-1011.00 survey of workers (36 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 33%, Some College Courses 15%, Less than a High School Diploma 14%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 14%, Bachelor's Degree 12%, Post-Secondary Certificate 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-1011.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-1011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Assembly Supervisor, Line Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor, Molding Supervisor, Plant Supervisor, Production Manager, Production Supervisor, Quality Assurance Supervisor (QA Supervisor). O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: 0.7% of First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 673,430 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.