Post job

What is a supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Michael Ault Ph.D.
introduction image

A supervisor oversees and manages the work of a team or department within an organization. They are responsible for ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently and promptly. Supervisors provide support and feedback to their teams to help them improve their skills and achieve goals. They communicate with other departments and stakeholders to ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives. Supervisors play a crucial role in ensuring that a team achieves its goals.

What general advice would you give to a supervisor?

Michael Ault Ph.D.Michael Ault Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director of Master of Professional Communication, Associate Professor of Communication, Weber State University

Asking what a communication specialist does is kind of like asking what a Mom does. We can do a little bit of everything. Communication specialists are often hired as managers and supervisors, social media managers, public relations staff and leaders, family councilors, educators, journalists, and just about any other industry you can think of.
ScoreSupervisorUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,902

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
4.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 4.58%

Black or African American 12.19%

Hispanic or Latino 18.98%

Unknown 4.08%

White 59.47%

Gender

female 44.20%

male 55.80%

Age - 47
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 - 47
Stress level
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a supervisor?

Pros

  • Ability to lead and mentor a team

  • Higher salary and benefits compared to entry-level positions

  • Increased job security

  • Chance to develop valuable skills in leadership, communication, and problem-solving

  • Greater control over team performance and productivity

Cons

  • Increased workload and stress

  • Difficulties with managing conflicts or difficult employees

  • Accountability for mistakes or failures

  • Risk of being blamed for team member misconduct or poor performance

  • Potential for interpersonal conflicts with team members or superiors

Supervisor career paths

Key steps to become a supervisor

  1. Explore supervisor education requirements

    Most common supervisor degrees

    Bachelor's

    43.6 %

    High School Diploma

    21.0 %

    Associate

    20.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific supervisor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service11.36%
    Safety Procedures9.46%
    Sales Floor9.19%
    POS8.55%
    Direct Supervision8.52%
  3. Complete relevant supervisor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New supervisors 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 supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real supervisor resumes.
  4. Gain additional supervisor certifications

    Supervisor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific supervisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for supervisors include OSHA Safety Certificate and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research supervisor duties and responsibilities

    • Lead continuous process improvement and six sigma teams to meet ISO 9001 and QS 9000 standards.
    • Manage and implement merchandising strategy for POS marketing and display inventory.
    • Lead comprehensive training for each new volunteer or court-mandate worker regarding OSHA regulations and warehouse procedure.
    • Organize care with 6 CNAs.
  6. Prepare your supervisor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your supervisor 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 supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable supervisor resume templates

    Build a professional supervisor 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 supervisor resume.
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
    Supervisor Resume
  7. Apply for supervisor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a supervisor 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 supervisor job

Zippi

Are you a supervisor?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average supervisor salary

The average supervisor salary in the United States is $53,902 per year or $26 per hour. Supervisor salaries range between $31,000 and $92,000 per year.

Average supervisor salary
$53,902 Yearly
$25.91 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do supervisors rate their job?

5/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Supervisor reviews

profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Team work , layout understand ing, and clients conversations skills

Cons

On site rudly behavior


profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

A great leader, leads by example. Leading organization with team effort, to learn and grow.

Cons

No effort in team work, disorganized, no leadership.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Cons

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.


Working as a supervisor? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Supervisor FAQs

Search for supervisor jobs

Supervisor jobs by state

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.

Browse production and manufacturing jobs