Packaging supervisor vs materials supervisor

The differences between packaging supervisors and materials 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 packaging supervisor and a materials supervisor. Additionally, a materials supervisor has an average salary of $67,592, which is higher than the $55,729 average annual salary of a packaging supervisor.

The top three skills for a packaging supervisor include safety procedures, GMP and quality standards. The most important skills for a materials supervisor are continuous improvement, safety procedures, and logistics.

Packaging supervisor vs materials supervisor overview

	Packaging Supervisor	Materials Supervisor
Yearly salary	$55,729	$67,592
Hourly rate	$26.79	$32.50
Growth rate	3%	6%
Number of jobs	49,650	61,634
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

What does a packaging supervisor do?

A packaging supervisor ensures all packaging procedures are done safely, and on time. This person's responsibility is to make sure that the packaging process is without problems, from the warehouse to the intended destination. This person also monitors all stored items, how they are packaged, what materials are used for packaging, and offers solutions for issues that may appear during the production process. A packaging supervisor is necessary for companies that require a lot of packaging goods and the moving business, where furniture and other items of value are often packaged carefully to avoid damages during transport.

What does a materials supervisor do?

The job of a materials supervisor is to oversee the shipping, receiving, handling, and warehousing of materials. You will supervise the transport of materials and ensure that the material needs of an organization are met. Typical job duties include overseeing the daily business operations of the group, ensuring best practices in safety, productivity, housekeeping. The supervisors ensure that attendance is being followed and monitoring routine operations in materials management, including logistics and planning. As a materials supervisor, you are also expected to mentor team members for professional and personal development.

Packaging supervisor vs materials supervisor salary

Packaging supervisors and materials supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Packaging Supervisor	Materials Supervisor
Average salary	$55,729	$67,592
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $79,000	Between $51,000 And $89,000
Highest paying City	Cheyenne, WY	Elkhart, IN
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Wyoming
Best paying company	AbbVie	Mercy Corps
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Manufacturing

Differences between packaging supervisor and materials supervisor education

There are a few differences between a packaging supervisor and a materials supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Packaging Supervisor	Materials Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Packaging supervisor vs materials supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between packaging supervisors' and materials supervisors' demographics:

	Packaging Supervisor	Materials Supervisor
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2%	Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 4.4% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 4.8% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between packaging supervisor and materials supervisor duties and responsibilities

Packaging supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage capital equipment expenditures, tooling and fixturing costs, and CNC programs.
Manage a team of 16-35 to insure packaging lines are running to standards as far as USDA guidelines and company productivity.
Provide direction to production workers relating to GMP's, food safety, sanitation and regulatory requirements
Monitor daily to ensure HACCP and USDA standards are being meet.
Enforce compliance with all company policies and procedures, as well as OSHA requirements.
Work with QA, planning and warehouse distribution to resolve and meet production issues.

Materials supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage the inventory of electrical parts and component using KANBAN.
Manage a free BOM scrubber design to review manufacturer's current part lists.
Develop, implement, and manage logistics of outsource manufacturing operations to sister companies in Canada and Italy.
Establish procedures that manage critical factors such as moisture sensitivity, electrostatic discharge, storeroom temperature and FIFO inventory staging system.
Implement new inventory management system into MRP.
Implement OSHA forklift safety standards to ensure safe and efficient warehouse operations when unloading freight trucks.

Packaging supervisor vs materials supervisor skills

Common packaging supervisor skills

Safety Procedures, 8%
GMP, 8%
Quality Standards, 7%
Direct Supervision, 6%
FDA, 5%
Process Improvement, 4%

Common materials supervisor skills

Continuous Improvement, 6%
Safety Procedures, 6%
Logistics, 6%
Inventory Control, 6%
Shipping Receiving, 5%
MRP, 4%

Packaging Supervisor vs. similar jobs

Packaging Supervisor related careers

Packaging Supervisor related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Production and Manufacturing Industry
Packaging Supervisor
Packaging Supervisor vs Materials Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs