First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Also called: Production Supervisors
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: Abattoir Supervisor, Abrasive and Polished Products Supervisor, Acid Supervisor, Aerosol Supervisor, Aging Department Supervisor, Agricultural Chemicals Shift Superintendent
Median pay
$74,450
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$47,130 – $108,750
People employed
673,430
Holland code
ECR
Enterprising · Conventional · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 2.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 3.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 4.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 5.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary in every state →
What first-line supervisors of production and operating workers do
- 01Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
- 02Keep records of employees' attendance and hours worked.
- 03Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
- 04Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules, and other records and reports to determine production requirements and to evaluate current production estimates and outputs.
- 05Plan and establish work schedules, assignments, and production sequences to meet production goals.
- 06Confer with other supervisors to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Leadership Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from first-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers88% · +7%
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers85% · +7%
- Industrial Production Managers81% · +69%
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers78% · −20%
- Facilities Managers76% · +43%
Change into first-line supervisors of production and operating workers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers88% · $79,860
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers85% · $79,920
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers84% · $59,320
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers81% · $58,430
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers75% · $49,100
Majors that lead here
- Operations Management and Supervision
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.