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What is a plant superintendent and how to become one
No, a plant superintendent doesn't supervise the leafy green kind of plant, although some may say it would be easier than supervising people. Instead, the plant superintendent is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a manufacturing plant and ensuring productivity.
The plant superintendent's job involves a lot of working with people. They supervise workers at the plant, train new hires, and ensure that everybody is following safety procedures. They also oversee the manufacturing process and ensure that all products are up to quality standards without exceeding the budget. They may implement systems like KanBan boards to improve efficiency.
The plant superintendent needs to be good at organizing logistics and people. Many prepare for this position by getting a bachelor's degree in business or a similar field, although a diploma isn't necessary to succeed. They also need practical experience working in a manufacturing plant, often as a manager.
What general advice would you give to a plant superintendent?
Dr. Alyson Theriot
Associate Professor, Nicholls State University
Avg. Salary $95,149
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 3%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%
Asian 7.58%
Black or African American 4.05%
Hispanic or Latino 14.02%
Unknown 3.91%
White 69.93%
Genderfemale 3.08%
male 96.92%
Age - 48American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 48Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is very poor
6.4 - fair
Plant superintendent career paths
Key steps to become a plant superintendent
Explore plant superintendent education requirements
Start to develop specific plant superintendent skills
Skills Percentages Plant Safety 10.37% Production Supervisors 8.67% OSHA 6.06% Continuous Improvement 5.97% Plant Operations 5.77% Complete relevant plant superintendent training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New plant 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 a plant superintendent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real plant superintendent resumes.Research plant superintendent duties and responsibilities
- Manage employee's schedules, time off requests, vacation and payroll with the KRONOS time management software.
- Establish safety training program and documentation to satisfy OSHA requirements.
- Direct and monitor plant personnel in accordance with OSHA regulations and company safety program.
- Function as plant buyer, scheduler, maintenance, and QC lab tech.
Prepare your plant superintendent resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your plant 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 a plant 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 plant superintendent resume templates
Build a professional plant 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 plant superintendent resume.
Apply for plant superintendent jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a plant superintendent job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first plant superintendent job
Are you a plant superintendent?
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Average plant superintendent salary
The average plant superintendent salary in the United States is $95,149 per year or $46 per hour. Plant superintendent salaries range between $67,000 and $134,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do plant superintendents rate their job?
Plant superintendent reviews
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.
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.
In the field, hands on, working with trades. More custom oriented
I like getting to know the company's operation and running numbers to see what opportunities there are for improvement.
I don't dislike anything about supervising, however the most difficult part of this position for me was managing people. This is a challenge when turnover rates are high.
Updated January 8, 2025
