How to hire a production supervisor

How to hire a production supervisor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step production supervisor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a production supervisor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new production supervisor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a production supervisor do?

Post a production supervisor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The production supervisor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A production supervisor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, production supervisors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents production supervisor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Production Supervisor	Description	Hourly rate
   Production Supervisor	A Production Supervisor manufactures products through organizing and monitoring the work flow. They also develop and implement policies and procedures, and recommend improvements in production methods, equipment, and operating procedures.	$20-43
   Assembly Supervisor	Assembly Supervisors oversee and coordinate employees' work on assembly-lines. The supervisors assign personnel to stations or tasks and prepare their work schedules... Show more	$19-44
   Production Team Leader	A production team leader is in charge of leading and overseeing the efforts of a production team, ensuring projects are carried out in adherence to its goals and timelines. It is their duty to set guidelines and objectives, manage budgets and schedules, liaise with internal and external parties, and assess the performance of team members... Show more	$12-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Safety Procedures
   • Production Schedules
   • Quality Standards
   • Customer Service
   • ISO
   • OSHA
   • Corrective Action
   • Safety Regulations
   • GMP
   • Sigma
   • Process Improvement
   • Production Floor
   • Production Process

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage an run extruders an injection molds.
   • Utilize MRP system to monitor and manage raw material and finish goods inventory.
   • Manage employee's schedules, time off requests, vacation and payroll with the KRONOS time management software.
   • Manage departments responsible for beginning raw material production process using automate CNC control plasma cutting machines.
   • Lead targeted decision-making across fast-pace production operations for this growth-orient USDA food factory producing quality meat products.
   • Manage manufacturing department operations to ensure compliance with establish quality specifications, production levels, and FDA regulations.

   More production supervisor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your production supervisor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A production supervisor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a production supervisor in North Carolina may be lower than in California, and an entry-level production supervisor usually earns less than a senior-level production supervisor. Additionally, a production supervisor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average production supervisor salary

   $63,391yearly

   $30.48 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level production supervisor salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

   Average production supervisor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$77,710	$37
   2	Nevada	$68,476	$33
   3	Colorado	$67,317	$32
   4	Maryland	$66,981	$32
   5	New York	$65,969	$32
   6	Oregon	$64,932	$31
   7	Michigan	$64,628	$31
   8	Kansas	$61,546	$30
   9	Arizona	$61,240	$29
   10	Pennsylvania	$61,021	$29
   11	Illinois	$60,947	$29
   12	Indiana	$60,527	$29
   13	Wisconsin	$60,342	$29
   14	Maine	$60,240	$29
   15	Minnesota	$59,844	$29
   16	South Dakota	$59,733	$29
   17	Texas	$59,511	$29
   18	Ohio	$59,052	$28
   19	Nebraska	$55,959	$27
   20	Missouri	$55,882	$27

   Average production supervisor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Intuitive Surgical	$116,202	$55.87	4
   2	ResMed	$115,601	$55.58	1
   3	ConocoPhillips	$109,260	$52.53	1
   4	ICU Medical	$106,882	$51.39	6
   5	Stryker	$106,121	$51.02	15
   6	Bunge	$101,933	$49.01	23
   7	Ampere	$101,358	$48.73
   8	Cornerstone Research	$100,331	$48.24
   9	REV Group	$96,667	$46.47	4
   10	Cheniere Energy	$96,305	$46.30
   11	Arkema	$96,265	$46.28	10
   12	Nike	$96,141	$46.22	30
   13	AstraZeneca	$95,492	$45.91	1
   14	Wabtec Corporation	$95,166	$45.75	22
   15	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$94,814	$45.58	6
   16	OMNOVA Solutions	$94,769	$45.56
   17	BlackRock	$93,667	$45.03	6
   18	Entegris	$93,510	$44.96	8
   19	Ford Motor	$92,852	$44.64	73
   20	Cargill	$92,203	$44.33	116

4. Writing a production supervisor job description

   A production supervisor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a production supervisor job description:

   Production supervisor job description example

   The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. We're a globally trusted producer of high-quality, great-tasting, and nutritious foods for over 150 years. While Kraft Heinz is co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, our brands are truly global, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries. These beloved products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and numerous other grocery products in a portfolio of more than 200 legacy and emerging brands.

   We spark joy around mealtime with our iconic brands, including Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, Velveeta, Planters, Maxwell House, Capri Sun, Ore-Ida, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Primal Kitchen, and Classico, among others.

   No matter the brand, we're united under one vision: To sustainably grow by delighting more consumers globally . Bringing this vision to life is our team of 39,000+ food lovers, creative thinkers, and high performers worldwide. Together, we help provide meals to those in need through our global partnership with Rise Against Hunger. We also stand committed to responsible, sustainable practices that extend to every facet of our business, our consumers, and our communities. Every day, we're transforming the food industry with bold thinking and unprecedented results. If you share our passion - and are ready to create the future, build a legacy, and lead as a global citizen - there's only one thing to do: join our table and let's make life delicious!

   Our Culture of Ownership, Meritocracy & Collaboration

   We're not afraid to think differently. Embrace new ideas. Dream big. We empower our people at every level - from entry-level intern to senior leader - to own their work. We share a responsibility to think like Owners - to be mindful of the collective and sustained success of Kraft Heinz - which we apply to every situation, every day. As part of Kraft Heinz, you're supported to grow and achieve. You're expected to bring your authentic self to work every day, to lead with humility, and drive outstanding performance at every level - and you'll be rewarded. You're given opportunities to leave a mark and build a legacy. But you won't do it alone. You're supported by passionate teammates along the way, and our collective, collaborative spirit fuels our incredible progress.

   Job Description

   Job Title: Production Supervisor (2nd Shift)

   Location: Avon, NY

   Shift Time: 2:30-10:30PM

   Role / Title

   
   The Production Supervisor is a member of the plant leadership team and plays a key role in providing management and leadership to deliver business results and operational improvements. Under direction of the Business Unit Manager, the Production Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day manufacturing operations for an assigned area and shift.

   Primary Responsibilities

   This role has responsibility to achieve productivity, efficiency, customer service, cost, quality, safety and employee engagement objectives through both individual and team contributions. Provides direction, leadership, development and support to direct reports through empowerment, teamwork, on-the-job assignments and continuous improvement projects and initiatives. Develops, implements and promotes safety programs and safe work practices through involvement in plant safety teams, programs and initiatives. Promotes sound employee & labor relations within the department by developing and maintaining an effective organization with qualified personnel. Develops, promotes, and supports continuous improvement and other cross-functional initiatives.

   
   
   Qualifications

   • BA/BS Degree in Business, Food Science, Engineering or related field is preferred
   • 2+ years of experience in supervisor role
   • 1-5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment is required
   • Ability to lead, motivate and mentor large teams of hourly associates is required
   • Strong communication and leadership skills
   • Strong analytical/critical thinking
   • Strong accountability, consistency and follow-through skills
   • Ability to work effectively with a wide array of plant personnel ranging from hourly employees to senior management

   IND123

   #LI_KH1

   Location(s) Avon Plant Equal Opportunity Employer-minorities/females/veterans/individuals with disabilities/sexual orientation/gender identity

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find production supervisors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any production supervisors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level production supervisors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your production supervisor job on Zippia to find and recruit production supervisor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with production supervisor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new production supervisor

   Once you've decided on a perfect production supervisor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new production supervisor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a production supervisor?