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What is a senior manufacturing associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Senior manufacturing associates are generally in charge of managing raw materials in manufacturing operations, all while maintaining GMP and adhering to standards of quality as well as compliance regulations.

As senior-level employees, they may also be responsible for supervising subordinate workers and training them on the job. Other duties of a senior manufacturing associate often include monitoring inventory levels, conducting regular inspections on equipment, overseeing the performance of other employees, and ensuring that finished products meet the company's quality standards. Usually, a senior manufacturing associate also works closely with other manufacturing groups, such as quality assurance and quality control.

For this position, it is always advantageous to have a degree in a relevant field, such as business, supply chain management, or something similar--although it may not be a requirement for all employers. Experience, on the other hand, is a must, seeing as this position is at a senior level.

Their work environment is usually in a busy and noisy production floor. In terms of salary, the average pay for this position is around $32 an hour, or roughly $66,000 per year.

ScoreSenior Manufacturing AssociateUS Average
Salary
4.9

Avg. Salary $62,504

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.3

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%

Asian 9.51%

Black or African American 9.25%

Hispanic or Latino 16.28%

Unknown 4.86%

White 59.41%

Gender

female 34.93%

male 65.07%

Age - 46
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 - 46
Stress level
6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.5

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Senior manufacturing associate career paths

Key steps to become a senior manufacturing associate

  1. Explore senior manufacturing associate education requirements

    Most common senior manufacturing associate degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.5 %

    Associate

    14.3 %

    Master's

    12.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior manufacturing associate skills

    SkillsPercentages
    GMP13.08%
    Cell Culture6.43%
    Lean Six Sigma6.25%
    Harvest6.17%
    CIP3.85%
  3. Complete relevant senior manufacturing associate training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior manufacturing associates 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 senior manufacturing associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior manufacturing associate resumes.
  4. Research senior manufacturing associate duties and responsibilities

    • Own and manage assign corrective/preventative (CAPA) actions in the associated quality system.
    • Manage raw material inventory for GMP manufacturing operations.
    • Initiate class 1 NC's (final approval by QA).
    • Interact with other manufacturing groups such as QA, MTS, QC, etc.
  5. Get senior manufacturing associate experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior manufacturing associate. The most common roles before becoming a senior manufacturing associate include manufacturing associate, manufacturing technician team lead and research associate.
  6. Apply for senior manufacturing associate jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior manufacturing associate 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 senior manufacturing associate job

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Average senior manufacturing associate salary

The average senior manufacturing associate salary in the United States is $62,504 per year or $30 per hour. Senior manufacturing associate salaries range between $43,000 and $90,000 per year.

Average senior manufacturing associate salary
$62,504 Yearly
$30.05 hourly

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Senior manufacturing associate reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Improve 5's & increase productivity, manpower reduction...n+/- concept..

Cons

Can be managed accordingly situation.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Cons

Nothing


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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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