Manufacturing supervisor vs lead supervisor

The differences between manufacturing supervisors and lead supervisors 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 supervisor and a lead supervisor. Additionally, a manufacturing supervisor has an average salary of $71,330, which is higher than the $42,548 average annual salary of a lead supervisor.

The top three skills for a manufacturing supervisor include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and safety regulations. The most important skills for a lead supervisor are safety procedures, PET, and payroll.

Manufacturing supervisor vs lead supervisor overview

	Manufacturing Supervisor	Lead Supervisor
Yearly salary	$71,330	$42,548
Hourly rate	$34.29	$20.46
Growth rate	3%	-
Number of jobs	68,725	71,796
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

What does a manufacturing supervisor do?

A manufacturing supervisor is a management-level employee who takes responsibility for the daily operations of the production processes in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing supervisors execute different roles as sponsors, coaches, directors, counselors, and educators. They supervise staff, organize the production team, and monitor the overall workflow. There are necessary skills for this position, including adaptability, cooperation, verbal and written communication, and conflict resolution. The supervisors are also expected to be skilled in mentorship and in making a sound decision.

What does a lead supervisor do?

Lead supervisors are responsible for several duties within an organization. They are accountable for overseeing their members and making sure that the work they produce is of good quality. They mainly serve as role models for their staff members, who often seek guidance, leadership, and support from them. When issues arise between employees, lead supervisors should intervene by providing conflict management to ease the situation. They also have to delegate work to employees to get the job done efficiently.

Manufacturing supervisor vs lead supervisor salary

Manufacturing supervisors and lead supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Manufacturing Supervisor	Lead Supervisor
Average salary	$71,330	$42,548
Salary range	Between $55,000 And $92,000	Between $25,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	Newark, NJ	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Maine	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Boehringer Ingelheim	ABB
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Manufacturing

Differences between manufacturing supervisor and lead supervisor education

There are a few differences between a manufacturing supervisor and a lead supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Manufacturing Supervisor	Lead Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Manufacturing supervisor vs lead supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between manufacturing supervisors' and lead supervisors' demographics:

	Manufacturing Supervisor	Lead Supervisor
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3%	Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 4.4% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between manufacturing supervisor and lead supervisor duties and responsibilities

Manufacturing supervisor example responsibilities.

Conduct all safety meeting and manage the employee's time keeping (Kronos).
Review and correct documentation and batch records while managing RODAC testing and leading CAPA investigations.
Lead, develop, and implement the KANBAN system by providing better flows of raw material and production.
Manage a team of 16-35 to insure packaging lines are running to standards as far as USDA guidelines and company productivity.
Lead sigma program driving quality, productivity and delivery improvements.
Manage a team of QC inspectors for inspecting automotive components from manufacturing line

Lead supervisor example responsibilities.

Direct and lead inventory control initiatives and conduct all safety committee meetings per OSHA requirements.
Plan, lead and participate in training, Kaizen and ongoing activities.
Follow the GMP's and safety guidelines, complete reports on computer and manually; and assist line workers.
Coordinate scheduling of several production lines involve in GMP manufacturing.
Check and audit timekeeping and attendance records for compliance standards and payroll integrity.
Institute daily time sheet and accounting reviews reducing errors and almost eliminating after-the-fact payroll and invoicing adjustments.

Manufacturing supervisor vs lead supervisor skills

Common manufacturing supervisor skills

Continuous Improvement, 10%
Lean Manufacturing, 9%
Safety Regulations, 5%
Quality Standards, 5%
GMP, 5%
Production Schedules, 5%

Common lead supervisor skills

Safety Procedures, 22%
PET, 19%
Payroll, 12%
Customer Service, 11%
Exceptional Guest, 10%
Performance Evaluations, 10%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Manufacturing Supervisor
Manufacturing Supervisor vs Lead Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

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