What is the salary and career path for a plant supervisor?
Plant supervisor is a direct match to First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (SOC 51-1011), the BLS code for the front-line boss of factory operators; the OEWS May 2025 median is $74,450 a year ($35.79 an hour), from $47,130 at the 10th percentile to $108,750 at the 90th. BLS projects only 1.2% employment growth for the code over 2024–2034, slower than the average for all occupations. It is usually reached by promotion from a lead operator rather than through a four-year degree.
- Plant Supervisors earn a national median $74,450/yr ($35.79/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 51-1011); the top 10% clear $108,750.
- It is a direct-match role: BLS First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (SOC 51-1011) is the code for plant supervisors at a $74,450 median.
- No four-year degree is required; the path runs operator to lead to supervisor, with OSHA safety, lockout/tagout and lean training as the standard credentials.
- BLS projects only 1.2% growth for SOC 51-1011 through 2034 — slower than average — and the ladder runs lead operator ($47,130) to plant supervisor ($74,450 median) to senior supervisor ($91,680) to superintendent track ($108,750 top decile).
Career Path
How do you become a plant supervisor?
Lead operator / team lead
Running a line and coaching a crew before the supervisor title; entry supervisory pay sits near the 10th percentile of $47,130 for SOC 51-1011.
Plant / shift supervisor
Directing a shift or department around the $74,450 median for the code, owning output, quality and safety.
Senior / area supervisor
Running a larger area or multiple lines pays toward the 75th percentile of $91,680.
Superintendent / production manager track
Stepping up to superintendent or into production management reaches the 90th percentile of $108,750 for the supervisor code.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays plant supervisors the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 51-1011. National median: $74,450. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does plant supervisor pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles plant supervisors most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: plant supervisors rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +1.2% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly plant supervisors clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 51-1011 (plant supervisors) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do plant supervisors need?
OSHA general-industry safety training and 1910.147 lockout/tagout competence — the supervisor owns the shift's safety. See all state licences →
A lean, 5S or Six Sigma Green Belt credential that signals the continuous-improvement skills plants reward in supervisors.
Employer or community-college supervisory training in scheduling, coaching and labor-relations basics.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do plant supervisors use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 51-1011
Salary Levers
How do plant supervisors earn above the $74,450 BLS median?
Span and shift
Supervising a larger crew or the harder off-shifts moves pay from the $47,130 band toward the $74,450 median
Lean and safety record
A demonstrated record cutting scrap, downtime and injuries pays toward the $91,680 seventy-fifth percentile
Step up to superintendent
Moving to area superintendent or into production management is what reaches the $108,750 top decile
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a plant supervisor worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 51-1011. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Plant Supervisor Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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