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The differences between manufacturing managers and general supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a manufacturing manager, becoming a general supervisor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manufacturing manager has an average salary of $101,712, which is higher than the $78,650 average annual salary of a general supervisor.
The top three skills for a manufacturing manager include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and production schedules. The most important skills for a general supervisor are continuous improvement, production supervisors, and oversight.
| Manufacturing Manager | General Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $101,712 | $78,650 |
| Hourly rate | $48.90 | $37.81 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 40,395 | 80,113 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A manufacturing manager is an individual who manages the day-to-day operations of the organization's production process to ensure that all workers and departments meet the organization's productivity and efficiency standards. Manufacturing managers work under a department head and assist them in planning and directing an efficient equipment layout and material flow. They implement quality control programs that ensure finished products are in par with a certain standard. They also train manufacturing workers and monitor them to ensure that they meet performance and safety requirements.
A general supervisor supervises and oversees the daily performance of workers. They are expected to set goals and deadlines for their company. They may also have to organize employees' workflow and ensure that they understand their duties. They also monitor the productivity of employees and give constructive feedback.
Manufacturing managers and general supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Manager | General Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $101,712 | $78,650 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $145,000 | Between $59,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Bain & Company | Southern California Edison |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing manager and a general supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Manager | General Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between manufacturing managers' and general supervisors' demographics:
| Manufacturing Manager | General Supervisor | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |