Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Industrial Production Managers
Industrial Production Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.
Table of contents
What they do
Industrial Production Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.
- Review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints.
- Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
- Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports to detect production problems.
- Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Industrial Production Managers review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints. They develop budgets or approve expenditures for supplies, materials, or human resources, ensuring that materials, labor, or equipment are used efficiently to meet production targets.
A typical day for an Industrial Production Manager will also include:
- Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
- Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
- Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports to detect production problems.
- Prepare and maintain production reports or personnel records.
- Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Industrial Production Managers also maintain current knowledge of the quality control field, relying on current literature pertaining to materials use, technological advances, or statistical studies. They may also coordinate or recommend procedures for facility or equipment maintenance or modification, including the replacement of machines.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Industrial Production Managers review plans and confer with research or support staff to develop new products or processes. They might also negotiate materials prices with suppliers.
In addition, they institute employee suggestions or involvement programs.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.
To some Industrial Production Managers, it is also their responsibility to prepare and maintain production reports or personnel records.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
70% said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they found their job meaningful.
My Typical Day Check in with our manufacturing partners for current projects in production The most important thing to do when we first start the day is to see how the current projects we have in production are going. We have manufacturing partners all over the world so we have to be conscious of the … Read More
If I’m lucky, I get the first 10 minutes of walking into the office for myself, where I can get seated at my computer to check my emails and Slack messages. But, most of the time, there’s usually someone at my desk, and I spend my first hour answering questions and solving problems: whether it … Read More
I am Lisa, a production supervisor in charge of the fabrication unit at WellPCB. My typical work begins with a recap of the previous day’s work. My team and I will go through what we had accomplished (progress in making a PCB) if we didn’t manage to complete it the previous day. The recap involves … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Suitable for people who want independence and like to work on their own and make decisions.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the highest-paid careers in the world.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Industrial Production Managers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $67,100 to $84,990 per year or $32 to $41 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $181,220 | $87 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $141,290 | $68 |
Median | $108,790 | $52 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $84,990 | $41 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $67,100 | $32 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Industrial Production Managers based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Scientific Research and Development Services | $157820 | $75.88 |
Oil and Gas Extraction | $157740 | $75.84 |
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $150960 | $72.58 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | $148550 | $71.42 |
Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $147660 | $70.99 |
Natural Gas Distribution | $147360 | $70.85 |
Federal Executive Branch | $145490 | $69.95 |
Offices of Physicians | $139250 | $66.95 |
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $136970 | $65.85 |
Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $136490 | $65.62 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Industrial Production Managers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Industrial Production Managers including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Machinery Manufacturing | 9350 | $114970 | $55.28 |
Plastics Product Manufacturing | 7150 | $108110 | $51.98 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 7000 | $148550 | $71.42 |
Chemical Manufacturing | 6890 | $126970 | $61.04 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 6520 | $133930 | $64.39 |
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 6020 | $110340 | $53.05 |
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 6020 | $108290 | $52.06 |
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 5900 | $107150 | $51.52 |
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 5430 | $131100 | $63.03 |
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 4700 | $107220 | $51.55 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
Operations Management and Supervision
Science/Technology Management
Business/Commerce
Business Administration and Management
Clinical and Industrial Drug Development
Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences
Engineering/Industrial Management
Industrial Engineering
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
Don’t know which career to pursue?
Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.
Take The Career Quiz