Jobs Similar to Industrial Production Managers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to industrial production managers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, Construction Managers and Biomass Power Plant Managers.
Industrial Production Managers: $126,060 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Industrial Production Managers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 82% | $74,450−41% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Construction Managers | 80% | $114,990−9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Biomass Power Plant ManagersSame group | 80% | $126,060Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Biofuels Production ManagersSame group | 79% | $126,060Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Facilities ManagersSame group | 78% | $106,660−15% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Quality Control Systems ManagersSame group | 78% | $126,060Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Geothermal Production ManagersSame group | 78% | $126,060Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 8 | General and Operations Managers | 77% | $105,770−16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Hydroelectric Production ManagersSame group | 77% | $126,060Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 10 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersSame group | 76% | $107,230−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 76% | $79,860−37% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | 76% | $59,650−53% | High school |
| 13 | Wind Energy Operations Managers | 76% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Administrative Services ManagersSame group | 74% | $114,130−9% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | 74% | $96,660−23% | High school |
| 16 | Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 74% | $89,900−29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Supply Chain ManagersSame group | 73% | $107,230Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 73% | $59,320−53% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Wind Energy Development Managers | 72% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | 72% | $43,370−66% | High school |
- 1First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
82% similar · $74,450 (−41%) · Training or associate
- 2Construction Managers
80% similar · $114,990 (−9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Biomass Power Plant Managers
80% similar · $126,060 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Biofuels Production Managers
79% similar · $126,060 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Facilities Managers
78% similar · $106,660 (−15%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 6Quality Control Systems Managers
78% similar · $126,060 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Geothermal Production Managers
78% similar · $126,060 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 8General and Operations Managers
77% similar · $105,770 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Hydroelectric Production Managers
77% similar · $126,060 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
76% similar · $107,230 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
76% similar · $79,860 (−37%) · Training or associate
- 12Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
76% similar · $59,650 (−53%) · High school
- 13Wind Energy Operations Managers
76% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 14Administrative Services Managers
74% similar · $114,130 (−9%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 15Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
74% similar · $96,660 (−23%) · High school
- 16Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
74% similar · $89,900 (−29%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Supply Chain Managers
73% similar · $107,230 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
73% similar · $59,320 (−53%) · Training or associate
- 19Wind Energy Development Managers
72% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators
72% similar · $43,370 (−66%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers82% similar · Training or associate
- Facilities Managers78% similar · Training or associate
- Geothermal Production Managers78% similar · Training or associate
- Hydroelectric Production Managers77% similar · Training or associate
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers76% similar · Training or associate
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks76% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for industrial production managers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where industrial production managers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- General and Operations Managers (87)
- Construction Managers (84)
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (81)
- Industrial Engineers (81)
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (78)
- Logisticians (77)
- Logistics Analysts (76)
- Logistics Engineers (76)
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (75)
- Wind Energy Operations Managers (75)
Questions about jobs like industrial production managers
What jobs are most similar to industrial production managers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (82% similar), Construction Managers (80% similar), Biomass Power Plant Managers (80% similar), Biofuels Production Managers (79% similar) and Facilities Managers (78% similar).
Do jobs like industrial production managers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than industrial production managers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.