First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of first-line supervisors of production and operating workers include:
- Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
- Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
- Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
- 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.
- 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.
- Interpret specifications, blueprints, job orders, and company policies and procedures for workers.
- Observe work and monitor gauges, dials, and other indicators to ensure that operators conform to production or processing standards.
What First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Need to Know
Top first-line supervisors of production and operating workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Abattoir Supervisor
- Abrasive and Polished Products Supervisor
- Acid Supervisor
- Aerosol Supervisor
- Aging Department Supervisor
- Agricultural Chemicals Shift Superintendent
- Alteration Workroom Supervisor
- Alum Plant Supervisor
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 895,522 first-line supervisors of production and operating workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $59,340 |
| Hourly median | $28.53 |
| 10th percentile | $37,996 |
| 25th percentile | $48,668 |
| 75th percentile | $70,012 |
| 90th percentile | $80,684 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $88,060 |
| Connecticut | $82,800 |
| Rhode Island | $81,000 |
| New Jersey | $79,350 |
| Colorado | $78,420 |
| Minnesota | $78,170 |
| Alaska | $77,740 |
| New Hampshire | $77,720 |
| Delaware | $77,390 |
| New York | $77,210 |
| Massachusetts | $76,980 |
| Louisiana | $76,710 |
| Washington | $76,500 |
| Maine | $76,220 |
| California | $75,250 |
| South Carolina | $74,950 |
| District of Columbia | $74,930 |
| Wisconsin | $74,110 |
| Maryland | $73,830 |
| North Dakota | $73,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,040 |
| Arizona | $72,960 |
| Kansas | $72,500 |
| Virginia | $72,330 |
| Missouri | $71,790 |
| Vermont | $71,580 |
| Iowa | $71,140 |
| South Dakota | $70,950 |
| Illinois | $69,960 |
| Kentucky | $69,870 |
| Nebraska | $68,890 |
| Ohio | $67,980 |
| Guam | $67,950 |
| West Virginia | $67,800 |
| Michigan | $67,450 |
| Alabama | $67,210 |
| Utah | $67,050 |
| Indiana | $66,970 |
| Oregon | $66,750 |
| North Carolina | $66,640 |
| Oklahoma | $66,610 |
| Georgia | $66,260 |
| Texas | $65,190 |
| Montana | $65,140 |
| Mississippi | $64,510 |
| Nevada | $64,420 |
| Hawaii | $63,420 |
| Tennessee | $63,140 |
| Idaho | $62,530 |
| New Mexico | $61,740 |
| Florida | $61,410 |
| Arkansas | $61,110 |
| Virgin Islands | $57,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,970 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for first-line supervisors of production and operating workers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $78,735 | 4.7% | 1.00 |
| Middle Atlantic | $75,682 | 10.6% | 0.79 |
| Far Western US | $73,828 | 12.0% | 0.74 |
| Plains States | $72,969 | 8.3% | 1.23 |
| Rocky Mountains | $71,747 | 3.7% | 0.96 |
| Great Lakes | $69,236 | 20.8% | 1.52 |
| Southeast | $66,855 | 27.6% | 1.28 |
| Southwest | $66,117 | 11.7% | 0.96 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | CT | $102,450 | 1,070 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $102,420 | 480 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $97,960 | 2,500 |
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $91,820 | 110 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $88,990 | 2,700 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | WA | $85,280 | 430 |
| Billings, MT | MT | $84,460 | 420 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $83,560 | 3,840 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of first-line supervisors of production and operating workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 497,140 | $72,800 |
| Retail Trade | 38,940 | $50,800 |
| Wholesale Trade | 32,660 | $67,920 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 14,770 | $57,800 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 12,050 | $77,740 |
| Utilities | 11,810 | $126,140 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 11,680 | $59,860 |
| Construction | 9,470 | $76,370 |
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Internet browser software: Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Time accounting software: Kronos Workforce Timekeeper (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for first-line supervisors of production and operating workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Time Pressure
Education and Training
Most first-line supervisors of production and operating workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future first-line supervisors of production and operating workers often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers).
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