Also called: Production Supervisors
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers build management of personnel resources, time management and social perceptiveness skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (88%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 88% | $79,860 | +7% | None |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 85% | $79,920 | +7% | None |
| 3 | Industrial Production Managers | 81% | $126,060 | +69% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 78% | $59,320 | −20% | None |
| 5 | Facilities Managers | 76% | $106,660 | +43% | None |
| 6 | Wind Energy Operations Managers | 74% | $141,900Pay for the broader BLS group “Managers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Geothermal Production Managers | 73% | $126,060Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 73% | $69,500 | −7% | None |
| 9 | Hydroelectric Production Managers | 72% | $126,060Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Biomass Power Plant Managers | 71% | $126,060Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
Compared with First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, median $74,450. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as first-line supervisors of production and operating workers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
88% skill match · $79,860 · +7% pay
Troubleshooting · Management of Material Resources · Equipment Maintenance
85% skill match · $79,920 · +7% pay
Equipment Selection
81% skill match · $126,060 · +69% pay
Management of Financial Resources · Management of Material Resources · Systems Analysis
The closest matches are First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (88% skill match, median $79,860), First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (85% skill match, median $79,920) and Industrial Production Managers (81% skill match, median $126,060), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 12 pay more than first-line supervisors of production and operating workers at the median. The biggest increases: Industrial Production Managers (+69%, $126,060), Construction Managers (+54%, $114,990) and Administrative Services Managers (+53%, $114,130).
17 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.