Manufacturing Manager
Impact: Operational
Oversees and directs the daily operations of a manufacturing plant or department. Responsible for production efficiency, quality control, safety, and managing staff.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Moderate
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 45-55 hours/week
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $105,000
- Entry-level
- $75,000
- Senior
- $140,000
- Growth by 2033
- 5%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High
- Typical student debt
- $30,000 - $60,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Lean Manufacturing
- Production Planning
- Quality Control
- Supply Chain Management
- Budget Management
Soft skills
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Decision-making
- Time Management
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 5-8 years
- Years to senior
- 10-15 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Production Supervisor
- Manufacturing Manager
- Operations Director
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- Low
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.5/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 2.5/10
- Prestige
- 7.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate