How much does a factory supervisor make?
a year · about $36 an hour
A typical factory supervisor in the United States makes $74,450 a year, about $36 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Each day, they check the production plan, assign workers, and walk the line to spot faulty products or machines. They coach workers on safety, solve slowdowns with the team, and record what was made and whether it met quality rules.
Did you know? O*NET reports that 92% of surveyed production supervisors wear safety gear, such as safety shoes or hearing protection, every day.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $47,130 and $108,750How do you become one?
In the U.S., most production supervisors have a high school diploma and build experience in manufacturing before leading a team. Vocational classes or an associate degree can help, and new supervisors learn on the job with experienced workers.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, skills, useful certificates, the industry or employer, and the factory’s location. Jobs with more complex tasks or greater responsibility may also pay differently.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Wyoming ($90,390), lowest in Arkansas ($63,090).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $47,130 | $74,450 | $108,750 | about 673,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $90,390 | about 1,000 |
| Connecticut | $83,150 | about 9,000 |
| Rhode Island | $81,650 | about 3,000 |
| New Jersey | $81,110 | about 15,000 |
| Massachusetts | $79,920 | about 12,000 |
Official definition: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-1011.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/51-1011.00
- www.onetonline.org/skills/zone/51-1011.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes511011.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/print/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY