Operation supervisor vs senior supervisor

The differences between operation supervisors and senior supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an operation supervisor, becoming a senior supervisor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior supervisor has an average salary of $61,146, which is higher than the $57,279 average annual salary of an operation supervisor.

The top three skills for an operation supervisor include logistics, safety procedures and OSHA. The most important skills for a senior supervisor are rehabilitation, safety procedures, and continuous improvement.

Operation supervisor vs senior supervisor overview

	Operation Supervisor	Senior Supervisor
Yearly salary	$57,279	$61,146
Hourly rate	$27.54	$29.40
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	94,116	38,600
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	46	47
Years of experience	2	6

What does an operation supervisor do?

Operations supervisors manage a specific operations-related team or department. They ensure that all the agreed-upon key performance indicators are being met. They also address any performance challenges and strategize on how to improve different areas in the team. They communicate team goals and balance the organization's requirements with the team's profile. Operations supervisors also manage the employees under their department. They hire for vacancies and train new employees. They also ensure that employees are properly coached for improvement. Operations supervisors are expected to be strategic, personable, and good communicators.

What does a senior supervisor do?

A senior supervisor is responsible for overseeing staff work and ensures that employees reach weekly or monthly quotas and other production commitments. To complete the deadlines, a senior supervisor must diligently communicate with project team leaders to ensure task completion within the agreed deadline. A senior supervisor also monitors employee productivity and provides constructive feedback. They also offer coaching to develop team members and serve as a bridge between upper management and subordinates in ways that comply with the company's vision and mission.

Operation supervisor vs senior supervisor salary

Operation supervisors and senior supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Operation Supervisor	Senior Supervisor
Average salary	$57,279	$61,146
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $87,000	Between $35,000 And $104,000
Highest paying City	Kansas City, KS	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Louisiana	New York
Best paying company	Ropes & Gray	Western Digital
Best paying industry	Finance	-

Differences between operation supervisor and senior supervisor education

There are a few differences between an operation supervisor and a senior supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Operation Supervisor	Senior Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	California State University - Bakersfield

Operation supervisor vs senior supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between operation supervisors' and senior supervisors' demographics:

	Operation Supervisor	Senior Supervisor
Average age	46	47
Gender ratio	Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2%	Male, 65.8% Female, 34.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	6%	8%

Differences between operation supervisor and senior supervisor duties and responsibilities

Operation supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage labor and operating expenses to meet budget goals by utilizing KRONOS.
Manage the safety, quality, productivity, OEE, yields, & continuous improvement.
Manage the proper preparation of equipment for mechanical work as well as proper utilization of LOTO system.
Serve as member of HAZMAT team and manage all training, orientation and safety programs for entire facility.
Manage all inbound and outbound of product/inventory, and keep accurate counts in AS400 P.K.M.S warehouse management software.
Manage daily activities of up to 15 staff and up to 50 students at youth rehabilitation boarding facility.

Senior supervisor example responsibilities.

Analyze the KPIs and provide recommendation in order to attain or maintain the accepted values of KPIs.
Supervise and manage a team of 33 personnel including DOD contractors and linguist training over 3,000 soldiers on a daily basis.
Manage employment-related taxation issues including assisting clients with their annual obligations.
Manage timeliness, accuracy, and maintenance of publish content via Microsoft SharePoint.
Develop community sites within SharePoint to allow all team members to effectively manage assign inventory listings, and record keeping.
Manage patient financial counselor activities to ensure that uninsure patients are fully screen and receive application assistance for government Medicaid programs.

Operation supervisor vs senior supervisor skills

Common operation supervisor skills

Logistics, 7%
Safety Procedures, 7%
OSHA, 6%
Payroll, 5%
Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

Common senior supervisor skills

Rehabilitation, 12%
Safety Procedures, 8%
Continuous Improvement, 6%
OSHA, 4%
SR, 4%
Logistics, 4%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Operation Supervisor
Operation Supervisor vs Senior Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

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