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The differences between manufacturing leaders 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 leader and a production manager. Additionally, a manufacturing leader has an average salary of $89,761, which is higher than the $78,064 average annual salary of a production manager.
The top three skills for a manufacturing leader include lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and GMP. The most important skills for a production manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and quality standards.
| Manufacturing Leader | Production Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $89,761 | $78,064 |
| Hourly rate | $43.15 | $37.53 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 87,299 | 95,561 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A manufacturing leader or production leader is someone who takes charge of the manufacturer's production process. Manufacturing leaders plan, organize, and establish a recommendation for manufacturing strategies. They make sure that products are successfully developed based on the specifications. They supervise the teams working in product development and operations. It is part of their job to ensure great production management. They study successes and failures and emphasize growth. Also, they inspire and engage staff at every level of the manufacturing process.
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 leaders and production managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Leader | Production Manager | |
| Average salary | $89,761 | $78,064 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $126,000 | Between $50,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Western Digital | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing leader and a production manager in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Leader | Production Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing leaders' and production managers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Leader | Production Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 6% | 6% |