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What is a senior manufacturing manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Jerry Gintz CMfgE

A senior manufacturing manager supervises the production process in a manufacturing plant. They manage production teams, ensure efficient production, and implement quality control measures. Senior manufacturing managers also collaborate with other departments to ensure that the production process aligns with company goals and customer expectations. They develop strategies for continuous improvement and identify areas of inefficiency to optimize production. Additionally, senior manufacturing managers oversee inventory management, logistics, and supply chain operations.

What general advice would you give to a senior manufacturing manager?

Jerry Gintz CMfgE

Teaching Professor, Arizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus

When entering a career in manufacturing engineering, consider starting as a technician to gain experience with the company before transitioning into engineering. This will allow you to build confidence and better understand the production systems you will be responsible for as an engineer.
ScoreSenior Manufacturing ManagerUS Average
Salary
8.8

Avg. Salary $146,889

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.9

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 9.28%

Black or African American 3.90%

Hispanic or Latino 13.41%

Unknown 3.88%

White 69.02%

Gender

female 13.26%

male 86.74%

Age - 48
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 - 48
Stress level
9.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.3

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.2

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a senior manufacturing manager?

Pros

  • Opportunities for career advancement

  • Challenging and rewarding work

  • Exposure to new technologies and processes

  • Developing leadership skills

  • Building relationships with industry professionals

Cons

  • Heavy responsibility and pressure to meet goals

  • High level of competition in the market

  • Difficulty maintaining work-life balance

  • Limited time for personal development or hobbies

  • Potential for job insecurity during economic downturns

Senior manufacturing manager career paths

Key steps to become a senior manufacturing manager

  1. Explore senior manufacturing manager education requirements

    Most common senior manufacturing manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.4 %

    Master's

    19.4 %

    Associate

    8.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior manufacturing manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Continuous Improvement10.65%
    Lean Manufacturing9.62%
    Sigma4.89%
    SR4.62%
    Project Management4.29%
  3. Complete relevant senior manufacturing manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior manufacturing manager resumes.
  4. Research senior manufacturing manager duties and responsibilities

    • Lead and support CAPA, NCR investigations
    • Lead the group to develop process improvement strategies following GMP guidelines.
    • Manage manufacturing operations cross functionally with quality, logistics operations, procurement, finance, sales, and marketing.
    • Lead kaizen event to improve the new assembler hiring and training process, which significantly increase new hire retention rates.
  5. Get senior manufacturing manager experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior manufacturing manager. The most common roles before becoming a senior manufacturing manager include manufacturing manager, production manager team lead and plant manager.
  6. Prepare your senior manufacturing manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing manager resume templates

    Build a professional senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing manager resume.
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
    Senior Manufacturing Manager Resume
  7. Apply for senior manufacturing manager jobs

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

Zippi

Are you a senior manufacturing manager?

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Average senior manufacturing manager salary

The average senior manufacturing manager salary in the United States is $146,889 per year or $71 per hour. Senior manufacturing manager salaries range between $100,000 and $215,000 per year.

Average senior manufacturing manager salary
$146,889 Yearly
$70.62 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do senior manufacturing managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Senior manufacturing manager reviews

profile
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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

The diversity of tasks, interaction with all stakeholders, continuous learning process, communication. Allows great progression in many technical skills

Cons

Stakeholders missing deadlines


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

Link PCB design with Manufacturing, reduce cycle and solve the problems earlier

Cons

DO Change orders


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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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