First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
SOC code 51-1011 · O*NET-SOC 51-1011.00 · Medium preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Production supervisors coordinate the line: staffing, output targets, quality checks and safety. Most are promoted from machine operation or assembly roles, and the position is the main ladder rung toward plant management.
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$74,450
a year
Hourly
$35.79
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$76,600
$36.83 per hour
Middle 50%
$58,630 – $91,680
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$47,130 – $108,750
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
673,430
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $47,130
- $22.66/hr
- 25th percentile
- $58,630
- $28.19/hr
- Median percentile
- $74,450
- $35.79/hr
- 75th percentile
- $91,680
- $44.08/hr
- 90th percentile
- $108,750
- $52.28/hr
What do first-line supervisors 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 33% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)33%
- Some College Courses15%
- Less than a High School Diploma14%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree14%
Common questions
How much does a first-line supervisors of production and operating workers earn?
The national median is $74,450 a year. The full range runs from $47,130 at the 10th percentile to $108,750 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Monitoring3.8/5
- Reading Comprehension3.5/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing4.3/5
- Administration and Management4.1/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.6/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.2/5
- Mathematics3.2/5
- Administrative3.2/5
- Mechanical3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.