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The differences between manufacturing supervisors and manufacturing directors 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 manufacturing director. Additionally, a manufacturing director has an average salary of $147,277, which is higher than the $71,330 average annual salary of a manufacturing supervisor.
The top three skills for a manufacturing supervisor include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and safety regulations. The most important skills for a manufacturing director are continuous improvement, supply chain, and lean manufacturing.
| Manufacturing Supervisor | Manufacturing Director | |
| Yearly salary | $71,330 | $147,277 |
| Hourly rate | $34.29 | $70.81 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 68,725 | 42,235 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 46 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A manufacturing director is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing a company's manufacturing procedures. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, coordinating and managing different departments, planning budgets, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, implementing solutions, and developing strategies to optimize manufacturing operations. Furthermore, as a manufacturing director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Manufacturing supervisors and manufacturing directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Supervisor | Manufacturing Director | |
| Average salary | $71,330 | $147,277 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $92,000 | Between $100,000 And $214,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Nationwide Children's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Retail |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing supervisor and a manufacturing director in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Supervisor | Manufacturing Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing supervisors' and manufacturing directors' demographics:
| Manufacturing Supervisor | Manufacturing Director | |
| Average age | 46 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% |
| 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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 69.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |