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Lead person vs operation supervisor

The differences between lead people 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 lead person and an operation supervisor. Additionally, a lead person has an average salary of $105,432, which is higher than the $57,279 average annual salary of an operation supervisor.

The top three skills for a lead person include safety rules, ISO and safety regulations. The most important skills for an operation supervisor are logistics, safety procedures, and OSHA.

Lead person vs operation supervisor overview

Lead PersonOperation Supervisor
Yearly salary$105,432$57,279
Hourly rate$50.69$27.54
Growth rate-6%
Number of jobs87,61994,116
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4646
Years of experience22

What does a lead person do?

A lead person or lead worker is an employee who provides leadership and instructions to others in a group to complete tasks quickly and effectively. Lead workers plan and organize meetings with supervisors and the management to discuss a particular project's progress and development. Lead persons would often participate in the training of new employees about their job duties. As the group leader, lead persons must also ensure that employees are following company policies and adhere to all standards and guidelines.

What does an operation supervisor do?

Operations supervisors manage a specific operations-related team or department. They ensure that all the agreed-upon key performance indicators are being met. They also address any performance challenges and strategize on how to improve different areas in the team. They communicate team goals and balance the organization's requirements with the team's profile. Operations supervisors also manage the employees under their department. They hire for vacancies and train new employees. They also ensure that employees are properly coached for improvement. Operations supervisors are expected to be strategic, personable, and good communicators.

Lead person vs operation supervisor salary

Lead people and operation supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead PersonOperation Supervisor
Average salary$105,432$57,279
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $171,000Between $37,000 And $87,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CAKansas City, KS
Highest paying stateHawaiiLouisiana
Best paying companyGoogleRopes & Gray
Best paying industryConstructionFinance

Differences between lead person and operation supervisor education

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

Lead PersonOperation Supervisor
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Lead person vs operation supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between lead people' and operation supervisors' demographics:

Lead PersonOperation Supervisor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 84.4% Female, 15.6%Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.7% White, 59.6% 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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between lead person and operation supervisor duties and responsibilities

Lead person example responsibilities.

  • Manage the POS system to process sales/returns/exchanges.
  • Manage job crew, operate industrial vac-truck, obtain CDL
  • Attain permits and ensure workers used proper PPE prior to entering confine spaces.
  • Train and achieve USG certification for stainless steel, common steel MIG, aluminum MIG, and TIG common.
  • Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.
  • Conduct hourly quality and production inspections, while following all FDA, SQF and GMP guide lines.
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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.
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Lead person vs operation supervisor skills

Common lead person skills
  • Safety Rules, 8%
  • ISO, 7%
  • Safety Regulations, 7%
  • CNC, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • Production Floor, 5%
Common operation supervisor skills
  • Logistics, 7%
  • Safety Procedures, 7%
  • OSHA, 6%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%

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