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Job outlook for manufacturing supervisors in the United States
Manufacturing supervisor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected manufacturing supervisor job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 7,100 new jobs for manufacturing supervisors are projected over the next decade.
Manufacturing supervisor salaries have increased 9% for manufacturing supervisors in the last 5 years.
There are over 65,815 manufacturing supervisors currently employed in the United States.
There are 68,725 active manufacturing supervisor job openings in the US.
The average manufacturing supervisor salary is $71,330.
Are manufacturing supervisor jobs in demand?
Manufacturing supervisor job and salary trends over time
Manufacturing supervisor jobs over time
Manufacturing supervisor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65,815 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 62,192 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 65,176 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 64,617 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 62,897 | 0.02% |
Average manufacturing supervisor salary over time
Manufacturing supervisor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $71,330 | $34.29 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $69,582 | $33.45 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $68,572 | $32.97 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $66,813 | $32.12 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $65,576 | $31.53 | +2.6% |
Manufacturing supervisor jobs by state
Most common states for manufacturing supervisors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 225 | 26% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,340 | 20% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 255 | 19% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,024 | 18% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 552 | 18% |
| 6 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,117 | 17% |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 913 | 16% |
| 8 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,773 | 15% |
| 9 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 688 | 15% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,475 | 14% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 267 | 14% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 150 | 14% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 87 | 14% |
| 14 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 82 | 14% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,624 | 13% |
| 16 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,331 | 13% |
| 17 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 863 | 13% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 614 | 13% |
| 19 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 227 | 13% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 101 | 13% |
Most common cities for manufacturing supervisors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawrenceville | 4 | 13% | $62,096 |
| 2 | Tualatin | 3 | 11% | $62,596 |
| 3 | Idaho Falls | 4 | 7% | $69,942 |
| 4 | Auburn | 2 | 7% | $85,864 |
| 5 | Andover | 2 | 6% | $91,202 |
| 6 | Jackson | 2 | 6% | $69,190 |
| 7 | Lexington | 2 | 6% | $91,578 |
| 8 | Frederick | 3 | 4% | $90,418 |
| 9 | Framingham | 2 | 3% | $91,822 |
| 10 | Fremont | 4 | 2% | $80,120 |
| 11 | Danbury | 2 | 2% | $83,019 |
| 12 | Irvine | 3 | 1% | $73,663 |
| 13 | San Diego | 7 | 0% | $73,039 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $74,170 |
Manufacturing Supervisor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of manufacturing supervisor experts
Arizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
University of California
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
MANA
Jerry Gintz CMfgE
Teaching ProfessorArizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus
Manufacturing Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Manufacturing Supervisor?
Jerry Gintz CMfgE: When entering a career in manufacturing engineering, consider starting as a technician to gain experience with the company before transitioning into engineering. This will allow you to build confidence and better understand the production systems you will be responsible for as an engineer.
Jianyu Liang
Director of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, WPIWorcester Polytechnic Institute
Materials Engineering
What Manufacturing Supervisor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jianyu Liang: For manufacturing engineers, the next 3-5 years promise significant evolution due to advancements in technology and changes in manufacturing processes. Here are some skills that are expected to become more important and prevalent in the field: proficiency in automation and robotics, advanced data analysis and data-driven optimization, digital twin technology, additive manufacturing and 3D printing, application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in manufacturing, cybersecurity for manufacturing systems, and supply chain management.
Jonathan Puthoff
Associate ProfessorCalifornia State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Chemical and Materials Engineering
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Manufacturing Supervisor job market given the pandemic?
Jonathan Puthoff: I predict a reconsideration of what "attendance" means in a workplace. Knowledge workers have always had some leeway to work from home, but workplaces that have found near-universal remote collaboration congenial may consciously move toward that model. Workers who are afforded more options to work from home should consider carefully the level of support that their employer provides for doing this and should be prepared to negotiate over the exact terms.
What experience really stands out on Manufacturing Supervisor resumes?
Lorenzo Valdevit Ph.D.: As the pandemic has made it harder for students to secure these invaluable internships and other industrial experience, we expect the gap between the most marketable students (those who succeeded in securing these experiences against all odds) and everyone else to grow even deeper this hiring season.
What general advice would you give to a Manufacturing Supervisor?
Dr. Kamran Abedini: Larger corporations might have more mentors and give you more time to get familiar with the processes; however, smaller ones need your undivided attention from day one to prove your worth. Both have their own advantages. Learn why you are being hired and work toward satisfying that purpose. Graduates need to be tech-savvy and know how to work remotely. This means a formal work setting at home or taking advantage of remote offices, recently becoming popular for those who want to get out of their homes to feel they are in a working environment. Furthermore, they need to spend more time thinking and taking advantage of cognitive skills as artificial intelligence can substitute natural intelligence, but still, pattern recognition and feeling interpretation is still made by humans. Engineers are tasked to imagine and make a better world. That is what they should wake up thinking every day.
What general advice would you give to a Manufacturing Supervisor?
Jerry Leth: 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.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Manufacturing Supervisors in the next 3-5 years?
Jerry Leth: The current Covid-19 pandemic saw a huge surge in virtual meeting platforms. Your purpose as a salesperson needs to be to help your customers solve the problems they face, not to get orders. If they sense you want to help them rather than get them to buy something, they trust you and end up buying from you. Prior to Covid, salespeople created and maintained high-trust customer relationships through face-to-face meetings. That is not possible under the current environment, and salespeople rely more on connecting through LinkedIn and growing customer relationships through virtual meeting platforms. Following the pandemic, while face-to-face meetings return, the virtual meetings will continue to gain importance and relevance.