Production Assembler
Put together products and components on factory lines, following precise instructions.
- $44,650
- 1 day to 1 month on the job
Mechanics, Maintenance & Manufacturing career
Production Supervisor
Also called: Manufacturing Supervisor · Shift Supervisor · Production Lead · Operations Supervisor
What production supervisors do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a production supervisor do?
First-line production supervisors oversee manufacturing workers and operations, planning schedules, assigning work, enforcing safety and quality, and solving problems that slow production. The median pay is $74,450 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 3–5 years of experience, and employment is projected to grow +1.8% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$74,450$35.79/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+1.8%2025–35, slower than average
- Openings per year61,000Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to train3–5 years of experienceTypical program length
- U.S. jobs679,900Employment, 2025
What production supervisors do
Production supervisors run the shift. They plan staffing, assign people to lines and machines, hold huddles, track output against goals, solve breakdowns and quality problems with maintenance and engineering, and coach and evaluate their team. They are responsible for safety on the floor and for hitting production targets.
Most supervisors are promoted from within after several years as operators, technicians or team leads, though some have degrees in business or manufacturing. Lean and Six Sigma training, strong communication and steady judgment help supervisors move up to production manager and plant leadership roles.
Typical duties
- Plan staffing and assign work each shift
- Lead start-of-shift huddles
- Monitor output, scrap and downtime
- Enforce safety rules and investigate incidents
- Solve production and quality problems
- Coach, train and evaluate employees
- Report results and improvement ideas to managers
Work environment and schedule
Supervisors work on factory floors and in nearby offices. They walk the plant constantly, wear PPE and deal with noise and fast-moving operations.
Schedule: Most work full-time, often 10 or 12-hour shifts, including nights or weekends, with on-call responsibilities.
A day in the life
- Review the night shift report and staffing for absences.
- Lead the safety and production huddle and assign stations.
- Walk the lines and check first-piece quality sign-offs.
- Work with maintenance on a filler machine breakdown and move operators to another line.
See a full day in the life of a production supervisor →
Production Supervisor salary
Half of production supervisors earned more than $74,450 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $47,130 for the lowest 10% to $108,750 for the top 10%.
Full production supervisor pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a production supervisor
- Work in production
- Become a team lead
- Learn lean and safety
- Get promoted to supervisor
- Advance
A high school diploma plus several years of manufacturing experience is typical. Some employers prefer an associate or bachelor’s degree. Lean, Six Sigma and supervisory training are common.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a production supervisor →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Production scheduling
- Lean manufacturing
- KPI tracking (OEE, scrap, downtime)
- Root cause analysis
- Safety management
People skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Conflict resolution
- Decision making
All production supervisor skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Leadership without a degree in many plants
- Good pay and advancement
- Every day brings new problems to solve
- Make a real difference for your team
Cons
- Pressure to hit targets
- Handling discipline and conflict
- Long or off-hour shifts
- Responsible when things go wrong
Certifications and licenses
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt: Training in process improvement and problem solving.
- OSHA 30-Hour General Industry: Safety training for supervisors.
- ASCM CPIM: Certification in production and inventory management.
- SME Lean certification: Lean manufacturing credentials from SME.
Career path
- Operator or Team Lead: Learn processes and lead small teams.
- Production Supervisor: Lead a shift or department.
- Production or Operations Manager: Manage multiple shifts or areas.
- Plant Manager: Lead a whole facility.
Learn the job before day one
Our Production Supervisor training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as lead a start-of-shift huddle and run a 5 whys problem solving session, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Quality Control Inspector
Measure, test and inspect products to make sure they meet specifications.
- $48,570
- 3–12 months on the job
Industrial Maintenance Technician
Keep factory machinery running with mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting.
- $64,520
- 1–4 years
Logistics Coordinator
Plan and track how products move from suppliers to customers, on time and on budget.
- $82,320
- 1–4 years
Compare: Production Supervisor vs. Production Assembler · Production Supervisor vs. QC Inspector · Production Supervisor vs. Maintenance Technician · Production Supervisor vs. Logistics Coordinator
Production Supervisor FAQ
Do production supervisors need a degree?
Many are promoted with experience alone, though some plants prefer degrees.
What training helps?
Lean, Six Sigma, OSHA 30 and leadership courses.
What’s next after supervisor?
Production manager, operations manager and plant manager.
How much does a production supervisor make?
The median annual wage for production supervisors was $74,450 ($35.79 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $47,130 and the highest 10% earned more than $108,750.
How long does it take to become a production supervisor?
Most people need about 3–5 years of experience of training. A high school diploma plus several years of manufacturing experience is typical. Some employers prefer an associate or bachelor’s degree. Lean, Six Sigma and supervisory training are common.
Do you need a degree to be a production supervisor?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education.
More production supervisor questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-1011 (First-line supervisors of production and operating workers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for First-line supervisors of production and operating workers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.