How To Become A Production Program Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a production program manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Daryl Green

The average production program manager salary is $82,043. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an business major. It usually takes 8-10 years of experience to become a production program manager. Production program managers with a Certified Manager Certification (CM) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 33,700 job opportunities across the U.S.

What's a day at work look like for a production program manager?

Dr. Daryl Green

Associate Professor of Business, Oklahoma Baptist University

Given the on-going threats of Covid-19, recent graduates can expect varying work days. Some students are working remotely (instead of an office space). Therefore, some recent graduates may still be living with their parents. We are still adjusting to 'The New Normal.' Given this reality, students need to be flexible and adaptable to their employment situation.

ScoreProduction Program ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.4

Avg. Salary $82,043

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 8.15%

Black or African American 3.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.67%

Unknown 5.32%

White 74.58%

Gender

female 26.80%

male 73.20%

Age - 38

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 - 38

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a production program manager

Explore production program manager education requirements

Most common production program manager degrees

Bachelor's

72.9 %

Master's

12.8 %

Associate

10.3 %

Start to develop specific production program manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Program Management	26.33%
Continuous Improvement	14.99%
Sigma	9.84%
Earned Value Management	6.96%
Lean Manufacturing	5.72%

Complete relevant production program manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New production program 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 production program manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real production program manager resumes.

Research production program manager duties and responsibilities

Manage implementation of referrals, coordinate assignment of new physicians and create support network for transitioning patients during clinic closure.
Revise company quality process to meet the more stringent ISO establish standards.
Direct the development of custom power train systems from OEM commercial products into customer-specific military applications.
Provide strategic guidance and day-to-day direction of end-to-end development and manufacture of storage solutions for OEM customer.

Apply for production program manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a production program manager 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 do production program managers rate their job?

-/5

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Production program manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Cons

Enjoy all aspects.

Pros

Project concept, execution - meeting business and Customer expectations.

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019