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The differences between manufacturing directors and production managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a manufacturing director and a production manager. Additionally, a manufacturing director has an average salary of $147,277, which is higher than the $78,064 average annual salary of a production manager.
The top three skills for a manufacturing director include continuous improvement, supply chain and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for a production manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and quality standards.
| Manufacturing Director | Production Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $147,277 | $78,064 |
| Hourly rate | $70.81 | $37.53 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 42,235 | 95,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A manufacturing director is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing a company's manufacturing procedures. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, coordinating and managing different departments, planning budgets, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, implementing solutions, and developing strategies to optimize manufacturing operations. Furthermore, as a manufacturing director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Production managers work in show business, whether in film, television shows, or theatre productions. They oversee the whole production and ensure that all agreements are met. They manage finances and budget allocation. They oversee the design of costumes and sets. They also manage the timeline of filming and ensure that the production or filming will finish within the agreed timeline. Production managers also ensure that all stakeholders are satisfied. They build meaningful working relationships with everyone involved, from directors to actors to crew members. They try to mitigate any potential challenges in the production budget and schedule.
Manufacturing directors and production managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Director | Production Manager | |
| Average salary | $147,277 | $78,064 |
| Salary range | Between $100,000 And $214,000 | Between $50,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Nationwide Children's Hospital | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing director and a production manager in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Director | Production Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing directors' and production managers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Director | Production Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 69.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |