First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Salary: $71,190 Median Pay (2026 stats)
Executive Summary
About 685,140 first-line supervisors of production and operating workers work nationally, and $71,190 is the BLS national median annual wage. Projections imply about 0.8% annual decline; much hiring sits in manufacturing.
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: what the data shows
Common questions about first-line supervisors of production and operating workers careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a first-line supervisors of production and operating workers?
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 51-1011.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 685,140 workers.
What does a first-line supervisors of production and operating workers do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Getting Information, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a first-line supervisors of production and operating workers make?
BLS national median annual wage: $71,190 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $82,652 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,087 |
| 25th percentile | $60,091 |
| Median (50th) | $77,205 |
| 75th percentile | $99,755 |
| 90th percentile | $128,165 |
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Management of Personnel Resources, Time Management, Speaking, Active Listening, Coordination, Critical Thinking, and knowledge areas including Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, English Language. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is first-line supervisors of production and operating workers in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 0.8% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -3.9%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -7.6%.
Current U.S. headcount: 685,140.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do first-line supervisors of production and operating workerss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 685,140 | 19.6% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 659,160 | 18.9% |
| Manufacturing | 497,140 | 14.2% |
| Food Manufacturing | 70,010 | 2.0% |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 68,870 | 2.0% |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 57,520 | 1.6% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Helpers--Production Workers | 167,490 | $38,220 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | 385,000 | $57,770 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 277,060 | $38,820 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 75,710 | $155,020 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | 53,520 | $60,800 |
| Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 3,320 | $50,280 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers workforce.
Employment Over Time
685,140 U.S. workforce (OEWS)
California employment for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers shrank from 233,140 in 2009 to 205,460 in 2025 (11.9%).
Historical employment for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers from the California OEWS series, 2009–2025. The U.S. workforce figure is national and is not the endpoint of this line.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$71,190 Median pay (BLS national)
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn $71,190 as the BLS national median annual wage.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Salary distribution for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Employment Growth Projections
-0.8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
197,503 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -3.9%
189,854 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -7.6%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Wage Trends by Industry
1.7% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- TX: 58,900 employees, $72,240 avg wage
- CA: 51,710 employees, $80,560 avg wage
- IL: 32,330 employees, $73,650 avg wage
- OH: 31,660 employees, $71,450 avg wage
- PA: 28,880 employees, $74,070 avg wage
- FL: 28,420 employees, $68,680 avg wage
- MI: 28,050 employees, $71,770 avg wage
- GA: 25,970 employees, $71,760 avg wage
- IN: 25,830 employees, $71,530 avg wage
- WI: 25,660 employees, $74,380 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 22,410 employees, $74,840 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 19,660 employees, $77,810 avg wage
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 19,090 employees, $84,790 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 17,550 employees, $70,860 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 14,610 employees, $76,610 avg wage
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: 11,860 employees, $72,440 avg wage
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI: 10,800 employees, $74,360 avg wage
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 9,530 employees, $80,580 avg wage
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 8,720 employees, $82,200 avg wage
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI: 8,680 employees, $81,280 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Diversity
Demographic information on First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers in the US.
Gender and Age
The U.S. workforce for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers is about 685,140 people in our OEWS extract.
Gender and age distribution for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers in 2023 were Business Administration, Engineering, Business.
Common majors for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers workers.
Education level distribution for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Skills
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers need many skills, but most especially Management of Personnel Resources, Time Management, Speaking, Active Listening, Coordination.
Required skills for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers include Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, English Language, Computers and Electronics.
Knowledge areas required for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers include Problem Sensitivity, Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression, Speech Clarity, Written Comprehension.
Required abilities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
Daily Activities
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers spend their time on activities such as Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Getting Information, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials.
Most important work activities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
About
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn $71,190 as the BLS national median annual wage.
SOC Code
51-1011 - First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers reports an average salary of $82,652.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 685,140 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -0.8%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.