How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating worker

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What first-line supervisors of production and operating workers do

• Read and analyze charts, work orders, production schedules, and other records and reports to determine production requirements and to evaluate current production estimates and outputs.
• Confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances.
• Calculate labor and equipment requirements and production specifications, using standard formulas.
• Maintain operations data, such as time, production, and cost records, and prepare management reports of production results.
• Plan and develop new products and production processes.
• Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is first-line supervisors of production and operating worker a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 46% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Wyoming $90,390
• Connecticut $83,150
• Rhode Island $81,650
• New Jersey $81,110
• District of Columbia $80,030

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.