### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Industrial Production Managers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			industrial production managers imageIndustrial production managers develop the manufacturing plan and establish procedures for manufacturing plants.							
						Quick Facts:     Industrial Production Managers2023     Median Pay
            						$116,970     per year
										$56.24     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    5 years or moreOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    222,100Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    2% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,600What Industrial Production Managers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Industrial production managers oversee the operations of manufacturing and related plants.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most industrial production managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
            
                                                How to Become an Industrial Production Manager
                                                
                        
Industrial production managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and several years of related work experience.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for industrial production managers was $116,970 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of industrial production managers is projected to grow							 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 15,300 openings for industrial production managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for industrial production managers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of industrial production managers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about industrial production managers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Industrial Production Managers Do 
            

			Industrial production managersIndustrial production managers monitor a plant’s workers to ensure they meet safety standards.			
Industrial production managers oversee the operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct activities involved in creating a range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, and paper products.
Duties
Industrial production managers typically do the following:
Decide how best to use a plant’s workers and equipment to meet production goals
Ensure that production stays on schedule and within budget
Communicate with sales staff, customers, and suppliers
Hire, train, and evaluate workers
Analyze production data
Review production reports
Monitor a plant’s workers and programs to ensure they meet performance and safety requirements
Streamline the production process
Assess whether production needs, such as for equipment upgrades or overtime work, are within budget
Lead staff in resolving problems or improving productionIndustrial production managers, also called *plant managers*, may oversee an entire manufacturing plant or a specific area of production.
Some industrial production managers are responsible for carrying out quality control programs to make sure the finished product meets standards for quality. Often called *quality control systems managers*, their work helps to identify a defect in products, identify the cause of the defect, and solve the problem that created it. For example, a manager may determine that a defect is being caused by parts from an outside supplier. The manager can then work with the supplier to improve the quality of the parts.
Industrial production managers who oversee an entire plant often work closely with managers from other departments, such as sales, warehousing, and research and design. For example, they might coordinate with a manager for the procurement (buying) department about orders for supplies that the production department needs.
 Work Environment
			Industrial production managersIndustrial production managers work in a variety of manufacturing industries.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Industrial production managers held about 222,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of industrial production managers were as follows:
        Transportation equipment manufacturing
                11%Fabricated metal product manufacturing
                9Chemical manufacturing
                9Food manufacturing
                7Machinery manufacturing
                7Industrial production managers spend some of their time in an office and some of it in the production area. When they are in the production area, they may need to wear protective equipment, such as a helmet, hearing protection, or safety goggles.
Work Schedules
Most industrial production managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They may need to be on call to deal with emergencies at any time. Some industrial production managers work night or weekend shifts.
 How to Become an Industrial Production Manager

			Industrial production managersIndustrial production managers need leadership and interpersonal skills to supervise manufacturing employees.			
Industrial production managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and several years of related work experience.
Education
Employers typically require or prefer that industrial production managers have a bachelor’s degree. However, some workers qualify for jobs if they have a high school diploma and extensive production experience.
For workers who have a degree, common majors include business and engineering. Some employers prefer to hire industrial production managers who have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a graduate degree in industrial management.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Industrial production managers usually need years of work experience in supervisory or other leadership positions. Some begin as production workers and move up through the ranks.
Industrial production workers usually advance to supervisory or other leadership positions before eventually becoming industrial production managers. Some take company-sponsored management classes to increase their chances of a promotion.
Those with a college degree might begin as a supervisor or lower-level manager. Other college graduates may be hired as an industrial production manager and complete training programs. Some begin working as an industrial production manager directly after college or graduate school. They may spend their first few months in training programs, becoming familiar with the production process, company policies, and safety regulations. In large companies, they may spend short periods of time working in other departments, such as purchasing or accounting, to learn more about the company.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although they are not required to do so, industrial production managers may earn certifications to demonstrate competency in quality or management systems. The American Society of Quality (ASQ) offers credentials in quality control and various levels of Six Sigma certifications. Because these credentials often require specific work experience, they typically are not available prior to entering the occupation.
Important Qualities
***Business skills.***Industrial production managers handle budgets for production facilities, hire and manage staff, and coordinate work between different departments.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff. Some industrial production managers oversee customer relationships.
***Leadership skills.*** To keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees.
***Organizational skills.*** Industrial production managers must keep track of many details to efficiently manage the operations of a production facility.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Production managers must identify and address problems that arise. For example, if a product has a defect, the manager determines whether it is a one-time problem or the result of the production process.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Industrial Production ManagersMedian annual wages, May 2023Operations specialties managers$136,170  Industrial production managers$116,970  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for industrial production managers was $116,970 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $72,010, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $190,480.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for industrial production managers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Chemical manufacturing
                $130,500Transportation equipment manufacturing
                125,380Machinery manufacturing
                108,090Food manufacturing
                105,430Fabricated metal product manufacturing
                102,450Most industrial production managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They may need to be on call to deal with emergencies at any time. Some industrial production managers work night or weekend shifts.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Industrial Production ManagersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Operations specialties managers11%  Total, all occupations3%  Industrial production managers2%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of industrial production managers is projected to grow				 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 15,300 openings for industrial production managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Most of these managers are employed in manufacturing industries, some of which are expected to have declining employment due to greater productivity. However, because industrial production managers are responsible for coordinating work activities with the goal of increasing productivity, they will continue to be needed in this capacity.
			

                        Employment projections data for     industrial production managers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Industrial production managers**
			11-3051
			222,100
			225,700
			2
			3,600
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Industrial production managers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of industrial production managers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers**
            Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services.
            Bachelor's degree
            $156,580**Architectural and Engineering Managers**
            Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in the fields of architecture and engineering.
            Bachelor's degree
            $165,370**Calibration Technologists and Technicians**
            Calibration technologists and technicians inspect, adjust, and test measurement devices against standards, such as those used in manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries.
            Associate's degree
            $62,790**Construction Managers**
            Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.
            Bachelor's degree
            $104,900**Health and Safety Engineers**
            Health and safety engineers combine knowledge of engineering and of health and safety to develop procedures and design systems to protect people from illness and injury and property from damage.
            Bachelor's degree
            $103,690**Industrial Engineers**
            Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,380**Management Analysts**
            Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,410**Mechanical Engineers**
            Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,510**Operations Research Analysts**
            Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help solve complex issues.
            Bachelor's degree
            $83,640**Sales Managers**
            Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams.
            Bachelor's degree
            $135,160**Top Executives**
            Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals.
            Bachelor's degree
            $103,840
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about quality management and certification, visit
American Society for Quality
For general information about manufacturing careers, visit
National Association of Manufacturers
CareerOneStop
For a career videos on industrial production managers, visit
Industrial production managers
Quality control systems managers

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Biofuels Production ManagersBiomass Power Plant ManagersGeothermal Production ManagersHydroelectric Production ManagersIndustrial Production ManagersQuality Control Systems Managers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Industrial Production Managers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/industrial-production-managers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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