Industrial Production Manager: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

Median pay

$126,060

BLS May 2025

Employed in the U.S.

246,250

BLS May 2025

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Most common education

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

29% of workers

1. Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
2. Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
3. Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
4. Hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.
5. Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports to detect production problems.
6. Prepare and maintain production reports or personnel records.
7. Review plans and confer with research or support staff to develop new products or processes.
8. Develop budgets or approve expenditures for supplies, materials, or human resources, ensuring that materials, labor, or equipment are used efficiently to meet production targets.

Telework available

4.6%

of workers had the ability to telework

Workday sitting

63.4%

mean share of the day required to sit

Most common strength level

Light

55.5% of workers

Can pause work

more than 99.5%

of workers could take short, unscheduled breaks

Self-paced workload

97.0%

of workers set their own workload

Employer-changed schedules

36.2%

of workers had schedules changed by the employer week to week

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey. Estimates are preliminary; ranges are shown as published.

1. Transportation equipment manufacturing10.2% of all jobs in this occupation · +1.6% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $137,160
2. Fabricated metal product manufacturing9.3% of all jobs in this occupation · -0.5% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $121,140
3. Chemical manufacturing8.6% of all jobs in this occupation · +4.4% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $146,150
4. Food manufacturing7.7% of all jobs in this occupation · +5.7% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $124,930
5. Machinery manufacturing7.0% of all jobs in this occupation · -0.7% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $131,650
6. Computer and electronic product manufacturing4.8% of all jobs in this occupation · +4.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $145,780

Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.

Knowledge areas: Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Mathematics, Personnel and Human Resources.

• Adobe After EffectsVideo creation and editing softwareHot technology
• Adobe InDesignDesktop publishing softwareHot technology
• Adobe PhotoshopGraphics or photo imaging softwareHot technology
• Autodesk AutoCADComputer aided design CAD softwareHot technology
• ABB Optimize IT Predict & ControlFacilities management software
• AVEVA InTouch HMIIndustrial control software
• Apple Final Cut ProVideo creation and editing software
• Citect IIMIndustrial control software
• CitectSCADA ReportsIndustrial control software
• ClockwareHuman resources software
• Computer integrated manufacturing CIM time manager softwareHuman resources software
• Computer integrated manufacturing CIM warehouse shipping manager softwareInventory management software

Also called: Area Plant Manager, Assembly Manager, General Production Manager, Manufacturing Coordinator, Manufacturing Manager, Plant Manager.