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What is an operations superintendent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Eric Olsen

As an Operations Superintendent, you're an essential member in keeping the company processes moving fluidly. This position oversees and organizes the daily processes of the organization, coaching the operations team through any questions or concerns that might arise.

As the leader of a team, you'll be responsible for keeping your members in line. With them, you'll construct and maintain objectives and guidelines, develop effective strategies and optimize routines, and monitor project performance and timelines. You'll be the driving force behind encouraging them to meet their goals on schedule, and a quality Operations Superintendent can motivate any team to push past their baseline goals.

Most companies will require an Operations Superintendent to have a minimum of three years in the department and previously have accrued several years of experience in operations or a similar field. You'll need to demonstrate good management and communications skills to gain the trust of the team and organization to keep things moving smoothly. Some companies may require a bachelor's degree in engineering or a technical license, as well as safety or technical certifications. On average, an Operations Superintendent will make about $103,000 per year.

What general advice would you give to an operations superintendent?

Eric OlsenEric Olsen LinkedIn profile

Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, Orfalea College of Business

Times of change are also times of great opportunities. We are going to need new technical solutions to address problems we are just learning about. You have to lean into the issues. Don't be a technologist - be a problem solver. That is why we also emphasize soft skills like lean six sigma, teamwork, and change management.
ScoreOperations SuperintendentUS Average
Salary
7.7

Avg. Salary $104,699

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.29%

Black or African American 6.10%

Hispanic or Latino 14.92%

Unknown 4.33%

White 67.89%

Gender

female 6.96%

male 93.04%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Operations superintendent career paths

Key steps to become an operations superintendent

  1. Explore operations superintendent education requirements

    Most common operations superintendent degrees

    Bachelor's

    43.1 %

    Associate

    39.4 %

    Master's

    9.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific operations superintendent skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Safety Program14.92%
    OSHA11.84%
    Direct Supervision10.38%
    Direct Reports4.74%
    Safety Standards4.42%
  3. Complete relevant operations superintendent training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New operations superintendents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an operations superintendent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real operations superintendent resumes.
  4. Gain additional operations superintendent certifications

    Operations superintendent certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific operations superintendent certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for operations superintendents include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Manager Certification (CM).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research operations superintendent duties and responsibilities

    • Finance and billing accountability across Medicaid, manage care commercial insurance, insurance verification, contract management, and benefits administration.
    • Direct network security monitoring & intrusion detection using authorize DoD information security applications.
    • Shape the future of DoD personnel management by identifying requirements and providing invaluable inputs for a paradigm-busting system.
    • Manage payroll distribution process ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and confidentiality to protect client's privacy and prevent liability of exposure.
  6. Prepare your operations superintendent resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your operations superintendent resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an operations superintendent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable operations superintendent resume templates

    Build a professional operations superintendent resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your operations superintendent resume.
    Operations Superintendent Resume
    Operations Superintendent Resume
    Operations Superintendent Resume
    Operations Superintendent Resume
    Operations Superintendent Resume
    Operations Superintendent Resume
    Operations Superintendent Resume
    Operations Superintendent Resume
    Operations Superintendent Resume
  7. Apply for operations superintendent jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an operations superintendent job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first operations superintendent job

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Average operations superintendent salary

The average operations superintendent salary in the United States is $104,699 per year or $50 per hour. Operations superintendent salaries range between $72,000 and $151,000 per year.

Average operations superintendent salary
$104,699 Yearly
$50.34 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do operations superintendents rate their job?

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Operations superintendent reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Cons

Nothing


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

I love being able to mold my team and the distribution center to the culture of respect and accountability! Having senior and executive leadership support is a huge positive factor in making this happen!!

Cons

Long hours and calls outside of regular business hours are the norm!


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

I love it and I wish I was back at my old job but I guess it is what it is

Cons

Not being loyal


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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