Career comparison
General and Operations Manager vs. Industrial Production Manager
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Industrial production managers earn more at the median ($126,060 vs. $105,770), while general and operations managers usually get to work faster (5+ years of experience of training). General and operations managers keep a business running day to day, from staff and budgets to results. Industrial production managers run a factory’s production so products get made safely, on time and on budget.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| General and Operations Manager | Industrial Production Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $105,770 ($50.85/hr) | $126,060 ($60.61/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $50,090 – $253,390 | $78,000 – $205,520 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.0% (faster than average) | +2.6% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 285,000 | 17,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 5+ years of experience | 5+ years of manufacturing experience |
| Key credential | Lean Six Sigma | Lean Six Sigma Black Belt |
| Work setting | Managers work in offices and on the floor of stores, plants, warehouses or service sites.. | Production managers work in plant offices and on the factory floor.. |
What each job does
General and Operations Manager
- Manage daily operations
- Supervise staff and managers
- Set and track budgets
- Improve processes
- Track performance metrics
Industrial Production Manager
- Plan production schedules
- Manage supervisors and staff
- Track output and costs
- Ensure product quality
- Lead safety programs
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, high-pay, high responsibility, and a fast pace. They sit in different fields, business & office and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as leadership and leadership.
Which should you choose?
Choose general and operations manager if…
- I like running things
- I solve problems fast
- I like numbers
Choose industrial production manager if…
- I like running operations
- I solve problems fast
- I care about safety
Still torn? Take the General and Operations Manager fit quiz and the Industrial Production Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, general and operations manager or industrial production manager?
Industrial Production Managers earn more at the median: $126,060 versus $105,770 for general and operations managers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
General and Operations Managers typically train faster (5+ years of experience) than industrial production managers (5+ years of manufacturing experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects general and operations managers to grow +5.0% from 2025–35, compared with +2.6% for industrial production managers.