How much do manufacturing managers make?

Manufacturing managers make approximately $101,100 per year on a national average. Those just entering the field as manufacturing managers may see entry-level salaries of approximately $67,000 per year. Those who have more experience and are in the top 10% could see salaries as high as $150,000 per year.

What is the difference between a production manager and a manufacturing manager?

The difference between a production manager and a manufacturing manager is that a production manager will look at the process as a whole, from sourcing to shipping; conversely, a manufacturing manager is typically more invested in materials and equipment involved in creating a product.

Who hires manufacturers?

There are many different companies that hire manufacturers. Manufacturing is the making of articles on a large scale using machinery. It is industrial production. This is an extremely widespread industry, and almost every large business that creates a product needs manufacturers at some point in their business process.

What is a manufacturing manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Jerry Leth

A manufacturing manager oversees the production process of goods in a factory or plant. They handle the day-to-day operations to ensure efficient production. This includes supervising workers, monitoring production schedules, and implementing quality control measures. Manufacturing managers must be knowledgeable about the production process and have strong leadership skills to manage workers. They require problem-solving and decision-making skills. Overall, they aim to ensure manufacturing operations run smoothly and meet production targets with high quality standards.

What general advice would you give to a manufacturing manager?

Jerry Leth

VP/General Manager, MANA

We are the Manufacturers' Agents National Association, a trade association of independent manufacturers' representative businesses. We will address this question from that perspective.
To a recent college graduate, a question I pose is, "Am I going to be happier and more satisfied working for someone? Or would I be more satisfied if I embarked on a path that leads me to own my own business?"
If the answer is owning your own business, consider looking for employment as an outside salesperson for an existing manufacturers' representative business. Our average member employs six outside salespersons, and the largest employs 160. Starting out as an employee provides an opportunity to learn about the business while earning an income. When you are ready, many manufacturers' representative firms offer ownership opportunities to employees, or you may choose to move on and start your own business. Either way, you achieve your goal of owning and running your own business.

ScoreManufacturing ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $101,712

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.9

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 9.19%

Black or African American 3.86%

Hispanic or Latino 13.25%

Unknown 3.87%

White 69.32%

Gender

female 11.16%

male 88.84%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress level

9.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.3

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.2

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a manufacturing manager?

Pros

High earning potential
Opportunities for career growth and advancement
Collaboration with diverse teams
Varied job responsibilities and tasks
Job security in a stable industry

Cons

Long and irregular hours, including weekends and holidays
High stress levels and pressure to meet production goals
Dealing with personnel issues, such as hiring, firing, and performance management
Meeting tight deadlines and dealing with unexpected setbacks
Difficulty in balancing work-life balance due to high workload and responsibilities

Key steps to become a manufacturing manager

Explore manufacturing manager education requirements

Most common manufacturing manager degrees

Bachelor's

67.0 %

Associate

14.7 %

Master's

12.1 %

Start to develop specific manufacturing manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Continuous Improvement	9.78%
Lean Manufacturing	8.54%
Production Schedules	4.09%
Production Supervisors	3.89%
Sigma	3.77%

Complete relevant manufacturing manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New manufacturing 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 manufacturing manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real manufacturing manager resumes.

Gain additional manufacturing manager certifications

Manufacturing 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 manufacturing manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for manufacturing managers include Six Sigma Green Belt and Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Lean Manufacturing.

More About Certifications

Research manufacturing manager duties and responsibilities

Lead plant start up efforts by implementing TPM systems, training, tracking, course correction.
Manage a 3 shift 63 machinist , 15 mfg engineers, and 5 support CNC machining operations.
Manage cross-functional teams to derive root cause analysis and resolutions for deviations, investigations and CAPA's.
Manage tech transfers, DFM, suppliers and CMO on late stage & commercial drug-device combination products.

Prepare your manufacturing manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your manufacturing manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a manufacturing manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable manufacturing manager resume templates

Build a professional manufacturing manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your manufacturing manager resume.

Apply for manufacturing manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a manufacturing 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 do manufacturing managers rate their job?

-/5

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Manufacturing manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022

Pros

Being part of the core team, making desicions and having a positive impact on my team daily , Expressing my abilities to grow as a leader face new challenges day to day. Put all my expierences and acknowlegment into action creating a postive enviroment to work.

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Improve 5's & increase productivity, manpower reduction...n+/- concept..

Cons

Can be managed accordingly situation.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020