How to hire a manufacturing manager

How to hire a manufacturing manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step manufacturing manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a manufacturing manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new manufacturing manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a manufacturing manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your manufacturing manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a manufacturing manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A manufacturing manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, manufacturing managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents manufacturing manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Manufacturing Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Manufacturing Manager	Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct the activities used to create a wide range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, or paper products.	$34-69
   General Supervisor	A general supervisor supervises and oversees the daily performance of workers. They are expected to set goals and deadlines for their company... Show more	$28-50
   Production Administrator	Production administrators support all artistic and production functions with expert administrative support to the entire production team. Part of their responsibilities includes maintaining the annual production expenses and production calendar, researching potential venues and maintaining a venue database, and preparing expense reports for artists and production staff... Show more	$12-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Continuous Improvement
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Production Schedules
   • Production Supervisors
   • Sigma
   • Project Management
   • Safety Program
   • Customer Service
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • On-Time Delivery
   • Process Improvement
   • Quality Standards
   • GMP
   • Direct Reports

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Manage all tissue valve production functions including QC inspection, machine shop, custom device and surgical accessories.
   • Utilize applicable decision making tools to consider assets, evaluate effectiveness and realign to achieve strategic goals and ROI.

   More manufacturing manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your manufacturing manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A manufacturing manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, manufacturing managers' average salary in florida is 46% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level manufacturing managers earn 51% less than senior-level manufacturing managers.
   • Certifications. A manufacturing manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a manufacturing manager's salary.

   Average manufacturing manager salary

   $101,712yearly

   $48.90 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level manufacturing manager salary

   $71,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average manufacturing manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$135,636	$65
   2	Washington	$134,687	$65
   3	Massachusetts	$119,493	$57
   4	Wisconsin	$113,603	$55
   5	New York	$110,381	$53
   6	Nebraska	$107,538	$52
   7	Michigan	$106,927	$51
   8	Ohio	$105,914	$51
   9	Arizona	$105,786	$51
   10	Texas	$103,536	$50
   11	Minnesota	$102,819	$49
   12	Nevada	$102,059	$49
   13	Illinois	$100,352	$48
   14	North Carolina	$100,335	$48
   15	Maryland	$98,293	$47
   16	Georgia	$96,826	$47
   17	New Mexico	$96,152	$46
   18	South Carolina	$95,409	$46
   19	Virginia	$93,745	$45
   20	Indiana	$93,395	$45

   Average manufacturing manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bain & Company	$162,868	$78.30
   2	A.T. Kearney	$162,267	$78.01
   3	Netflix	$160,548	$77.19
   4	Meta	$153,996	$74.04	93
   5	Google	$146,507	$70.44	49
   6	Apple	$145,029	$69.73	29
   7	Accenture	$142,572	$68.54	718
   8	Zoox	$140,498	$67.55	11
   9	Current TV	$138,947	$66.80
   10	Citi	$136,983	$65.86	3
   11	Fanatics	$133,578	$64.22	6
   12	Avid	$133,084	$63.98
   13	Tesla	$129,065	$62.05	53
   14	Sanofi US	$128,990	$62.01	11
   15	Amazon	$128,792	$61.92	169
   16	KLA	$128,441	$61.75	6
   17	VF	$128,392	$61.73
   18	Boehringer Ingelheim	$128,371	$61.72	1
   19	Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc	$127,816	$61.45	2
   20	Xylem	$125,891	$60.52	15

4. Writing a manufacturing manager job description

   A good manufacturing manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a manufacturing manager job description:

   Manufacturing manager job description example

   The Manager, Manufacturing Innovation will be responsible for supporting new process innovation, technology evaluations and commercialization for advancing Ingredion's 2030 Sustainability Agenda of targeted GHG, water and wastewater reductions across multiple growth platforms. The individual will also be responsible for all aspects of building and managing a small team of engineers including technical direction, team development and coaching, business strategy development and growth of the group.
   Core Responsibilities:
   Manage and coach the team in excellence in safety behavior, goal setting, development plans, performance appraisals, training, and engagement with business deliverables Drive the team to collaborate with colleagues to make significant contribution to deliver goals and execute project plans Support the delivery of Ingredion's Corporate GHG, Water and COD targets through execution of carbon sequestration program(s), novel wastewater treatment technologies, etc.Actively network with colleagues inside and outside the industry to discover emerging trends in sustainable manufacturing process technologies Identify and develop novel process technologies that will deliver structural cost reduction in specialties product lines Begin applied research program to investigate process intensification approaches to step-change CapEx and OpEx intensity reduction in manufacturing operations Evaluate new and novel technologies for application to existing manufacturing processes; scan the organization and the market for best practices to improve operations capabilities Facilitate the sharing of new technologies and approaches across the organization; utilize open innovation platforms to source ideas from external parties Build project management capability, and establish project management leadership; balance and optimize project portfolio to increase project execution performance Identify creative opportunities to digitize manufacturing operations
   
   Qualified candidates will have:
   Bachelor/Master of Science with 15+ years relevant experience or PhD with 10+ years relevant experience in Biochemical, Food or other water and energy intensive industries Experience in the management and leadership development of research professionals (engineers, chemists, etc.) Expertise in the food processing, pharmaceutical, or nutraceutical industry with emphasis on scale-up from pilot to manufacturing Strong written, verbal communication and presentation skills. Must be able to convey information in a clear, focused, and concise manner Demonstrated ability to build and foster relationships with leadership of business units, R&D, Technical Service, Manufacturing, and Regulatory groups to drive delivery on projects Strong problem solving and trouble shooting skills with knowledge of basic statistics, measurement systems assessment and six-sigma principles Digital awareness and analytics understanding Demonstrated willingness to develop listening and influencing skills Demonstrated innovative, strategic, and operational thinking, with an ability to adapt to emerging trends Strong business and financial acumen and ability to translate into operations strategy
   Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs.
   #LI-JG1
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, military status, or disability status.
   
   Relocation Available:
   Yes, Within Region

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right manufacturing manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with manufacturing managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit manufacturing managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your manufacturing manager job on Zippia to find and recruit manufacturing manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit manufacturing managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new manufacturing manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the manufacturing manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new manufacturing manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a manufacturing manager?