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What is a plant and production manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

Do you find supervising a manufacturing plant exciting? Then you should become a Plant and Production Manager. The Plant and Production Manager manages the activities of a facility and implements plans for minimally costly production.

Most Plant and Production Managers need a four-year degree in business and technology administration, but some employers may require experience in the field as a necessary prerequisite. Many new workers encounter in-house training to learn more about the operations of the organization. Some businesses may also require advanced qualifications like certificates to demonstrate their expertise.

The Plant and Production Manager must ensure a safe working environment for all staff. Most of them work more than 40 hours a week on average. The Plant and Production Manager's average salary in the United States is $141,561 to $193,590 as of January 29, 2021. The wage level can vary considerably depending on the number of years of experience in the field, including education, other credentials, and additional skills.

ScorePlant And Production ManagerUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,729

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.1

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 5.44%

Black or African American 12.15%

Hispanic or Latino 16.41%

Unknown 4.21%

White 61.07%

Gender

female 7.73%

male 92.27%

Age - 47
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 - 47
Stress level
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Plant and production manager career paths

Key steps to become a plant and production manager

  1. Explore plant and production manager education requirements

    Most common plant and production manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    57.1 %

    Associate

    18.9 %

    High School Diploma

    10.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific plant and production manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Quality Standards7.92%
    Safety Committee7.67%
    Lean Manufacturing6.65%
    Production Supervisors6.11%
    Production Facility4.89%
  3. Complete relevant plant and production manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New plant and production managers 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 a plant and production manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real plant and production manager resumes.
  4. Research plant and production manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage supervisory personnel in GMP production environment.
    • Manage all shipping & receiving logistics before creating position of shipping supervisor.
    • Enforce company safety policies and practices, HACCP procedures, GMP's /SSOP's and other company policies.
    • Assist safety manager with the implementation of company safety program according to OSHA requirements.
  5. Prepare your plant and production manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your plant and production manager 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 a plant and production manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable plant and production manager resume templates

    Build a professional plant and production manager 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 plant and production manager resume.
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
    Plant And Production Manager Resume
  6. Apply for plant and production manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a plant and production manager 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 plant and production manager job

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Average plant and production manager salary

The average plant and production manager salary in the United States is $38,729 per year or $19 per hour. Plant and production manager salaries range between $17,000 and $84,000 per year.

Average plant and production manager salary
$38,729 Yearly
$18.62 hourly

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How do plant and production managers rate their job?

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Plant and production manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2022
Pros

Being able to create a work environment where people flourish, come together, build good relationships form positive teamwork, watching work flow smoothly, reaching or exceeding goals, and be accountable. 2. An opportunity to learn shop floor activities technically and also to develop managerial skills.

Cons

When my children were young and still in school, I didn't like not having a work-life balance to be with the family. But now my family is grown up with there own families.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Cons

On site rudly behavior


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

A great leader, leads by example. Leading organization with team effort, to learn and grow.

Cons

No effort in team work, disorganized, no leadership.


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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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