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What is a line manager and how to become one
A line manager oversees a team of employees within a company and is typically responsible for the day-to-day performance of their team. These managers set goals, monitor progress, provide feedback, and make decisions to encourage their team’s success while acting as a liaison between upper management and their team of employees. Line managers are often tasked with budget management, regulation compliance, and fostering a positive work environment to promote team productivity and employee job satisfaction.
What general advice would you give to a line manager?
Eric Olsen
Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, Orfalea College of Business
Avg. Salary $56,406
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%
Asian 6.30%
Black or African American 6.11%
Hispanic or Latino 14.93%
Unknown 4.33%
White 67.87%
Genderfemale 35.26%
male 64.74%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a line manager?
Pros
Exposure to different aspects of the business
Ability to make decisions and solve problems
Potential for career advancement
Opportunity to improve employee satisfaction
Chance to implement new ideas and initiatives
Cons
Heavy workload with high levels of stress
Responsibility for the performance of others
Pressure to meet targets and deadlines
Potential for criticism or backlash from higher-ups
Difficulties in managing remote or distributed teams
Line manager career paths
Key steps to become a line manager
Explore line manager education requirements
Start to develop specific line manager skills
Skills Percentages Client Facing 10.97% Continuous Improvement 7.15% Service Line 6.05% Customer Satisfaction 5.97% Direct Reports 4.58% Complete relevant line manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New line managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a line manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real line manager resumes.Gain additional line manager certifications
More About CertificationsLine manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific line manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for line managers include Six Sigma Green Belt and Certified Sales Professional (CSP).
Research line manager duties and responsibilities
- Lead the team in successfully meeting FDA and GMP requirements.
- Manage project developing integration and process flows for fab expansion doubling the area and moving to a larger wafer.
- Manage team of database administrators, database technicians and systems administrators responsible for maintaining all production, development and QA systems.
- Define and enforce GMP's to subordinates.
Apply for line manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a line manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first line manager job
Are you a line manager?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average line manager salary
The average line manager salary in the United States is $56,406 per year or $27 per hour. Line manager salaries range between $27,000 and $116,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do line managers rate their job?
Line manager reviews
I love being able to mold my team and the distribution center to the culture of respect and accountability! Having senior and executive leadership support is a huge positive factor in making this happen!!
Long hours and calls outside of regular business hours are the norm!
People Busy Money Busy and variety in a job Solving problems
I love it and I wish I was back at my old job but I guess it is what it is
Not being loyal
Updated January 8, 2025
