First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn a median of $74,450 per year ($35.79/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.8% through 2035, with about 61,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-1011
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers in four numbers
- Median pay
- $74,450a year, or $35.79/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $47KTop 10% $109K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.8%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 61,000679,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025679.9K
- Projected 2035692.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 679.9K Projected 2035 692.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school14.2%
- High school32.8%
- Certificate11.6%
- Some college15%
- Associate's13.6%
- Bachelor's12%
Highest education held by first-line supervisors of production and operating workers Segment Value Less than high school 14.2% High school 32.8% Certificate 11.6% Some college 15% Associate's 13.6% Bachelor's 12%
Also advertised as: Assembly Supervisor, Line Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor, Molding Supervisor, Plant Supervisor, Production Manager.
Pay
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers make?
Every first-line supervisor of production and operating workers in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$74,450
Middle half earn $58,630 to $91,680
- 10th
- $47,130
- 25th
- $58,630
- 75th
- $91,680
- 90th
- $108,750
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,130 |
| 25th | $58,630 |
| Median | $74,450 |
| 75th | $91,680 |
| 90th | $108,750 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $74,450
- Median hourly wage
- $35.79/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $76,600
- People employed
- 673,430
Versus all US occupations
At $74,450, First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn 46% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $23,470 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 55% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $108,750 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,130, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 49% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Wyoming pays the most at $90,390, and still leads at $97,518 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Wyoming | $90,390 | $97,518 | 1,470 |
| 2Connecticut | $83,150 | $80,253 | 9,150 |
| 3Rhode Island | $81,650 | $79,830 | 2,660 |
| 4New Jersey | $81,110 | $74,546 | 15,040 |
| 5District of Columbia | $80,030 | $72,820 | 350 |
| 6Massachusetts | $79,920 | $75,569 | 12,390 |
| 7New Hampshire | $79,310 | $76,139 | 3,000 |
| 8Washington | $79,310 | $74,112 | 14,500 |
| 9Delaware | $79,100 | $79,252 | 1,450 |
| 10Maine | $78,970 | $81,370 | 2,970 |
Job outlook
Is First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | +1.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers to change 1.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 12,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 61,000 openings are projected each year, 9.0% of the 679,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as first-line supervisors of production and operating workers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)32.8%
- Some College Courses15%
- Less than a High School Diploma14.2%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree13.6%
- Bachelor's Degree12%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 32.8% |
| Some College Courses | 15% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 14.2% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 13.6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 12% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances.
- Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
- Recommend or implement measures to motivate employees and to improve production methods, equipment performance, product quality, or efficiency.
- Evaluate employee performance.
- 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.
- Inspect materials, products, or equipment to detect defects or malfunctions.
- Conduct employee training in equipment operations or work and safety procedures, or assign employee training to experienced workers.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Writing3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management3.9
- Management of Personnel Resources3.9
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Coordination3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.9 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Time accounting software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.3
- Conventional5.0
- Realistic4.3
- Social2.9
- Investigative1.6
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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More production careers
Median annual pay, with first-line supervisors of production and operating workers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers appears on
Questions
First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers: frequently asked questions
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers make?
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn a median of $74,450 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 46% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $35.79/hr. The middle half earn between $58,630 and $91,680. The top 10% earn $108,750 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 32.8% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.8% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 61,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers do?
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. A core O*NET task: confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers the most?
The highest state medians for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers are Wyoming ($90,390), Connecticut ($83,150), Rhode Island ($81,650) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers?
O*NET scores First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.