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Food and beverage manufacturing
Tyson Foods, Nestlé, General Mills
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
This job keeps a production line moving by assigning workers, checking schedules, and adjusting labor and equipment when output slips. It stands out because it mixes people management with production math and safety enforcement: one hour may be spent solving a staffing problem, and the next may be spent checking whether the line will hit quota. The tradeoff is that you carry real responsibility for output, costs, and safety while still working close to the noise, pace, and pressure of the shop floor.
Also known as Production SupervisorManufacturing SupervisorShift SupervisorPlant SupervisorOperations Supervisor
Median Salary
$71,190
Mean $74,540
U.S. Workforce
~685K
67.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.2%
698.6K to 706.9K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~685K workers, with a median annual pay of $71,190 and roughly 67.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 698.6 K in 2024 to 706.9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Production Worker and can progress toward Production Manager. High-value skills usually include Production Scheduling, Work Orders & SAP/ERP Systems, Management of Personnel Resources, and OSHA Safety Compliance & Incident Reporting, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Leadership, and Clear speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Figure out how many workers, machines, and materials are needed to meet the day’s production target.
- Talk with workers and management to settle complaints, conflicts, and attendance problems before they slow the line down.
- Track production numbers, time worked, and costs, then turn that information into reports for managers.
- Review schedules, work orders, and output records to see whether the plant is keeping up with demand.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Figure out how many workers, machines, and materials are needed to meet the day’s production target.
02 Talk with workers and management to settle complaints, conflicts, and attendance problems before they slow the line down.
03 Track production numbers, time worked, and costs, then turn that information into reports for managers.
04 Review schedules, work orders, and output records to see whether the plant is keeping up with demand.
05 Coordinate with other supervisors so different departments stay in sync when work moves from one step to the next.
06 Direct the production crew and make sure safety and sanitation rules are being followed on the floor.
Industries That Hire
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Automotive and parts manufacturing
Ford, General Motors, Toyota
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Consumer goods and packaging
Procter & Gamble, Ball Corporation, Amcor
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Distribution and logistics
Amazon, UPS, FedEx
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Pharmaceutical and medical products
Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Baxter
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for a job that usually does not require a four-year degree: the median is $71,190 and the mean is $74,540.
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Many workers enter with a high school diploma or equivalent and move up through experience, which makes the path more accessible than many management jobs.
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There are still 67.7 thousand annual openings, so people with the right floor experience can find steady demand.
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You get real control over daily output, staffing, and safety instead of just following orders from above.
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The skills transfer across many settings, from food plants to auto parts to packaging, which makes it easier to move between industries.
Challenges
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Growth is slow at just 1.2% from 2024 to 2034, so many openings come from turnover rather than expansion.
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This is usually an on-site, shift-based job, so remote work is rare and the hours can spill into nights, weekends, or holidays.
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You sit between management and workers, which means handling complaints, discipline, and conflict while still hitting production targets.
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Automation, lean staffing, and flatter management structures can shrink the number of supervisor roles over time, creating a tighter long-term career ceiling.
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When schedules slip or labor is short, you are still accountable for the output, which can force overtime, rushed training, or hard tradeoffs between speed and quality.
Career Progression
Production Worker
0-3 years
$34K-$46K
Learns the equipment, quality checks, and pace of the plant while working under close supervision.
Lead Production Worker
3-6 years
$46K-$60K
Helps coordinate a small crew, trains new workers, and spots problems before they slow production.
First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$63K-$82K
Assigns labor, tracks output, handles conflicts, and keeps safety, quality, and schedules on track.
Production Manager
10+ years
$83K-$112K
Oversees multiple shifts or departments, sets production goals, and balances staffing, cost, and quality.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 32.83% of workers in this role, usually paired with several years of hands-on experience on the production floor.
Some college courses in manufacturing, business, or industrial technology
A smaller but real path, used by 14.96% of workers, often by people who combine classroom study with line experience.
Associate's degree in industrial technology, manufacturing, or business
Held by 13.62% of workers, and it can help if you want to move faster into scheduling, quality, or process oversight.
Post-secondary certificate in manufacturing supervision, lean operations, or safety
This alternative path shows up for 11.6% of workers and is useful for people who want short, job-focused training instead of a full degree.
Key Skills
Technical
Production Scheduling, Work Orders & SAP/ERP Systems 78%
Management of Personnel Resources 78%
OSHA Safety Compliance & Incident Reporting 76%
Quality Control, Inspections & Defect Tracking 75%
Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen & Continuous Improvement 74%
Materials Planning, Inventory Control & Capacity Tracking 73%
Soft Skills
Active listeningLeadershipClear speakingTime managementCoordinationCritical thinking Job Outlook and Trends
+1.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
67.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 698.6K to 706.9 K over the next decade, representing 1.2% growth. Around 67.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.