The demand for production managers is rising, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth rate of 3% between 2023 and 2033. Numerous industries are looking for candidates who can level up their production processes, so staying informed about the national average production manager salary in the US and the factors influencing it is a must.

This guide highlights the average production manager salary as well as the role of the production manager.

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Role of a Production Manager

Every manufacturing organization needs a production manager. These individuals guarantee timely, effective, high-quality product production, efficient operations and output, and production planning, organization, and control to satisfy schedule, quantity, and cost constraints. They keep a check on the smooth running of production processes. Their job is planning and controlling production processes. The following are a product manager's leading roles and responsibilities:

1. Planning and Organizing Production

The production manager is responsible for overseeing the planning process for an industrial company. They ensure that the strategy is feasible to meet production and sales goals while ensuring the company's success in the market.

2. Monitors Quality Control 

Production managers prioritize standards to ensure product quality in a competitive market. They employ a quality management system to maintain manufacturing quality, assess available procedures, and determine the best strategies for high-quality spin-offs. 

3. Plan Layout and Arrange Plants

Production managers are crucial in constructing and maintaining production plants, ensuring safety, well-built structures, and efficient use of resources to maximize process productivity and minimize running costs. At the same time, they ensure that there is no pollution in the factory's environment.

4. Manages Inventory

A production manager is responsible for inventory management and control. This helps maintain the production process and consumption levels to prevent overstocking or understocking.

5. Carries Out Production Cycle Management and Control

Production planning is crucial for efficient manufacturing processes, and a production control system is essential for executing the plan. So, a production manager adopts a production control to increase productivity and ensure uninterrupted production, making it crucial for production managers to adopt such systems.

6. Evaluates Work Measurement Methods

Production managers track manufacturing's operational labor performance. Work can be measured by time-and-motion research. To boost morale and productivity, they look for any that fall short of the work measurement methodology benchmark, determine the cause, and take corrective action.

Also Read: Production Manager Job Description

Factors Influencing Production Manager Salary in the US

If you are considering becoming a production manager, knowing exactly how much you can anticipate making in this position and what factors affect your pay is crucial.

Education

Formal education in production management greatly influences pay, and companies frequently favor applicants with a bachelor's degree in media production, television, or film. A master's degree in production management or a certification in quality management can lead to career progression and pay increases.

Experience

Experience has a great impact on a production manager's salary. Entry-level managers are paid less per year than managers with 10+ years of experience. Other experience-related factors determining a production manager's compensation have also been identified. These include performance, leadership abilities, and project management capabilities.

Location

Another essential element that may affect a production manager's pay is location. Production managers in bigger cities make more money than in rural or smaller places. Another thing to think about is the cost of living. The cost of living is usually higher in larger places, even though earnings could be better there. To better understand how much your pay will be, it is crucial to look at the cost of living in the area you want to live in.

Industry

The pay a production manager receives depends on the business they are working in. Production managers of the film and television businesses generally make more money than those in the music industry. Manufacturing, technology, and advertising are but a few sectors that may pay production managers more. Explore your particular industry for a better understanding.

Average Production Manager Salary in the US

The average production manager salary in the US is $80,986 annually. It ranges from a minimum of $53,774 for junior positions to a maximum of $121,969 for senior production managers.

Senior Production Manager Salary in the US

Here's a table depicting the production managers' salaries in various US states.

City

State

Average Salary (per year)

Hartford

CT

$83,094

Austin

TX

$83,014

Los Angeles

CA

$82,528

New York

NY

$80,546

Salt Lake City

UT

$76,580

Portland

OR

$76,158

Dallas

TX

$74,118

Gilbert

AZ

$73,316

New Orleans

LA

$83,295

Harrisburg

PA

$80,735

Potential Career Growth Opportunities for Production Manager

There are impressive career growth opportunities and different job roles if you are a Production Manager. Continuous professional development in project management, technology integration, and process improvement boosts your career prospects. There are numerous chances for executive roles in operations or industrial management, such as:

  • Analytics Production Manager
  • Manufacturing Directors
  • Plant Chiefs
  • Plant Managers
  • Plant Superintendent
  • Production Control Managers
  • Technical Production Manager
  • Growth Production Manager
  • Senior Production Manager
  • Production Lead
  • Director of Production Management
  • Group Production Manager
Recommended Read: Must-Know Production Manager Skills

Strategies to Enhance Salary Prospects

Some key strategies to enhance salary prospects as a production manager are: 

Upskilling

It is wise to upskill. You can continuously enhance your lean methodology, production management, and data analytics skills. This helps you to stay competitive and increase your value.

Take More Responsibilities at Work

Impress your employer by volunteering for complex projects, leading cross-functional teams, and optimizing production processes. This is a clever way of demonstrating leadership potential and justifying salary increases.

Build Networking

Take opportunities to expand professional connections through industry events, conferences, seminars and online platforms.

Negotiate

It's crucial to be ready to negotiate over your pay after you've done your homework and have a firm idea of what you ought to be making as a production manager. Research industry and location ranges, be ready to discuss experience and successes, emphasize special abilities or certificates, and be confident and assertive when negotiating a production manager's pay.

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The Impact of Certifications and Training on Production Manager Salaries

Certifications and training can have a great impact on the salary of a production manager: 

Certifications

Certifications like the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt by Simplilearn can significantly increase salary. Employers find candidates with certifications more attractive as they can improve their marketability and demonstrate their commitment to professional development.

Training

Production managers trained with current technologies and industry trends may increase efficiency, reduce expenses, and streamline operations. Employers find such trained individuals more valuable and tend to grant them a senior position.

Future Outlook for Production Manager

There are about 17,100 openings for industrial production managers each year, on average, over the decade. Many of these job openings are expected to arise from the need to replace employees who switch to different careers or leave the workforce, such as through retirement.

Conclusion

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FAQs

1. What is the salary of a production manager with 1-year of experience?

The average salary for a production manager with 1-year of experience is $53,774 annually.

2. Does the salary of a production manager differ based on location?

Yes! The salary of a production manager differs based on location. For instance, an individual from Harrisburg, PA, has an average pay of $80,735, whereas another from Hartford, CT, enjoys an average of $83,094 yearly salary.

3. How does experience affect a production manager's salary?

More experience comes with added skills to the resume of a production manager, including performance, leadership skills, and project management abilities. Hence, the salaries are influenced by their experience.

4. What is the highest salary for a production manager?

The highest average salary for a production manager is $121,969 per annum for senior production manager positions.

5. What is the lowest salary of a production manager?

According to Indeed, the average lowest salary of a production manager is $53,774 per annum.

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