First line supervisor vs operation supervisor

The differences between first line supervisors and operation supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a first line supervisor and an operation supervisor. Additionally, an operation supervisor has an average salary of $57,279, which is higher than the $54,186 average annual salary of a first line supervisor.

The top three skills for a first line supervisor include safety procedures, personnel actions and corrective action. The most important skills for an operation supervisor are logistics, safety procedures, and OSHA.

First line supervisor vs operation supervisor overview

	First Line Supervisor	Operation Supervisor
Yearly salary	$54,186	$57,279
Hourly rate	$26.05	$27.54
Growth rate	-	6%
Number of jobs	81,452	94,116
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

First line supervisor vs operation supervisor salary

First line supervisors and operation supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	First Line Supervisor	Operation Supervisor
Average salary	$54,186	$57,279
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $82,000	Between $37,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Kansas City, KS
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Louisiana
Best paying company	CJ	Ropes & Gray
Best paying industry	Energy	Finance

Differences between first line supervisor and operation supervisor education

There are a few differences between a first line supervisor and an operation supervisor in terms of educational background:

	First Line Supervisor	Operation Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

First line supervisor vs operation supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between first line supervisors' and operation supervisors' demographics:

	First Line Supervisor	Operation Supervisor
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9%	Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 4.7% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between first line supervisor and operation supervisor duties and responsibilities

First line supervisor example responsibilities.

Lead division payroll meetings and maintain documentation available in share directory and portal to facilitate communication and standardization of payroll procedures.
Serve as commercial hvac division field supervisor.
Instruct supervisors when and where radar posts should occur to reduce speeding.
Supervise for four years a staff of five teamsters in the manufacture of bulk pharmaceuticals according to FDA requirements.
Participate in FDA audits of the manufacturing facility.
Supervise and direct combat engineer objectives within the guidelines of the senior management.

Operation supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage labor and operating expenses to meet budget goals by utilizing KRONOS.
Manage the safety, quality, productivity, OEE, yields, & continuous improvement.
Manage the proper preparation of equipment for mechanical work as well as proper utilization of LOTO system.
Serve as member of HAZMAT team and manage all training, orientation and safety programs for entire facility.
Manage all inbound and outbound of product/inventory, and keep accurate counts in AS400 P.K.M.S warehouse management software.
Manage daily activities of up to 15 staff and up to 50 students at youth rehabilitation boarding facility.

First line supervisor vs operation supervisor skills

Common first line supervisor skills

Safety Procedures, 28%
Personnel Actions, 17%
Corrective Action, 5%
Logistical Support, 4%
Conflict Resolution, 3%
Combat, 3%

Common operation supervisor skills

Logistics, 7%
Safety Procedures, 7%
OSHA, 6%
Payroll, 5%
Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

First Line Supervisor vs. similar jobs

First Line Supervisor related careers

First Line Supervisor related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Production and Manufacturing Industry
First Line Supervisor
First Line Supervisor vs Operation Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs