First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (SOC 51-1011) earn a median $74,450 a year ($35.79 an hour) in the United States, with 673,430 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Wyoming.
What first-line supervisors of production and operating workers do
First-line supervisors in production and operating work run the people on a factory floor, in a processing plant, or on an equipment line. A supervisor builds the shift schedule, hands out assignments, and reads production orders and output reports to see whether the line is on pace for the day. On the floor they watch gauges, spot-check materials and finished goods for defects, and check that operators are holding to processing standards. They also keep attendance and hours records, enforce safety and sanitation rules, and explain job orders, specifications, and company procedures to crews. They also confer with supervisors in other departments to coordinate work within and between departments. The occupation covers many industries, from food and chemicals to metal, textile, and electronics plants. Team leaders who work alongside their crews without formal authority are classified elsewhere, and supervisors of mechanics, construction crews, or office staff have their own codes.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Abattoir Supervisor, Abrasive and Polished Products Supervisor, Acid Supervisor, Aerosol Supervisor, Aging Department Supervisor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.66 | $28.19 | $35.79 | $44.08 | $52.28 | $36.83 | 673,430 |
| Annual | $47,130 | $58,630 | $74,450 | $91,680 | $108,750 | $76,600 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where first-line supervisors of production and operating workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $23.42 | $31.10 | $43.46 | $60.50 | $68.74 | $45.72 | 1,470 | 5.22 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $48,710 | $64,690 | $90,390 | $125,840 | $142,980 | $95,100 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $23.88 | $30.24 | $39.98 | $49.76 | $59.17 | $41.25 | 9,150 | 5.39 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $49,660 | $62,890 | $83,150 | $103,500 | $123,060 | $85,810 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $23.12 | $30.25 | $39.25 | $49.78 | $64.03 | $41.00 | 2,660 | 5.31 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $48,080 | $62,920 | $81,650 | $103,540 | $133,180 | $85,280 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $23.35 | $30.17 | $38.99 | $48.17 | $59.80 | $40.79 | 15,040 | 3.51 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $48,560 | $62,740 | $81,110 | $100,190 | $124,370 | $84,850 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $25.32 | $27.91 | $38.47 | $52.32 | $67.16 | $42.07 | 350 | 0.50 | 0.11 |
| Annual | $52,670 | $58,050 | $80,030 | $108,830 | $139,690 | $87,500 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.85 | $24.99 | $33.72 | $43.34 | $55.40 | $35.86 | 58,930 | 4.19 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $43,360 | $51,990 | $70,140 | $90,160 | $115,230 | $74,590 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.85 | $28.56 | $36.94 | $47.55 | $60.31 | $39.43 | 48,550 | 2.67 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $47,530 | $59,400 | $76,840 | $98,900 | $125,440 | $82,000 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $23.23 | $28.41 | $34.69 | $39.54 | $48.06 | $35.24 | 31,980 | 5.76 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $48,320 | $59,090 | $72,160 | $82,250 | $99,960 | $73,300 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $22.73 | $28.43 | $36.16 | $43.88 | $49.72 | $36.70 | 29,640 | 4.86 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $47,280 | $59,130 | $75,200 | $91,270 | $103,410 | $76,340 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $22.90 | $28.76 | $36.05 | $40.84 | $49.23 | $36.18 | 28,900 | 4.77 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $47,640 | $59,820 | $74,990 | $84,950 | $102,390 | $75,250 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $31.62 | $43.63 | $55.45 | $60.01 | $64.81 | $51.43 | 500 | 5.32 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $65,770 | $90,760 | $115,340 | $124,820 | $134,800 | $106,970 | ||||
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | Hourly | $30.06 | $43.23 | $50.81 | $65.14 | $79.58 | $51.72 | 1,000 | 7.92 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $62,520 | $89,920 | $105,690 | $135,490 | $165,520 | $107,590 | ||||
| Lexington Park, MD | Hourly | $23.25 | $31.88 | $48.07 | $56.94 | $81.13 | $48.43 | 130 | 1.85 | 0.43 |
| Annual | $48,360 | $66,310 | $99,980 | $118,430 | $168,750 | $100,730 | ||||
| Baton Rouge, LA | Hourly | $25.05 | $31.76 | $46.06 | $65.76 | $83.33 | $50.94 | 2,270 | 5.54 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $52,100 | $66,060 | $95,810 | $136,790 | $173,320 | $105,960 | ||||
| Lake Charles, LA | Hourly | $25.77 | $31.01 | $44.50 | $64.26 | $77.50 | $48.30 | 750 | 7.36 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $53,610 | $64,500 | $92,560 | $133,660 | $161,200 | $100,470 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $22.77 | $28.55 | $36.78 | $45.14 | $50.43 | $37.08 | 20,970 | 4.65 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $47,370 | $59,380 | $76,500 | $93,880 | $104,890 | $77,120 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.00 | $30.83 | $39.32 | $48.73 | $60.32 | $41.55 | 19,220 | 2.03 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $49,920 | $64,130 | $81,790 | $101,350 | $125,470 | $86,430 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.51 | $27.95 | $35.93 | $46.53 | $58.57 | $38.01 | 17,650 | 2.81 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $46,820 | $58,130 | $74,740 | $96,780 | $121,830 | $79,060 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $21.26 | $24.69 | $33.63 | $43.18 | $51.36 | $35.29 | 16,880 | 4.17 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $44,230 | $51,360 | $69,940 | $89,820 | $106,830 | $73,410 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $22.14 | $27.64 | $36.21 | $46.95 | $61.71 | $38.44 | 15,270 | 4.64 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $46,060 | $57,490 | $75,330 | $97,660 | $128,360 | $79,950 | ||||
Top industries employing first-line supervisors of production and operating workers
Plastics Product Manufacturing employ 4.3% of first-line supervisors of production and operating workers nationally (29,260 jobs) at a median $69,840 a year ($33.58 an hour), followed by Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) (4.0%) and Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) (3.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastics Product Manufacturing NAICS 326100 | 29,260 | 4.3% | $69,840 | $33.58 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) NAICS 4450A1 | 26,890 | 4.0% | $51,030 | $24.53 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) NAICS 3330A1 | 26,480 | 3.9% | $76,550 | $36.80 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) NAICS 3320A2 | 23,510 | 3.5% | $74,050 | $35.60 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336300 | 22,500 | 3.3% | $70,140 | $33.72 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (673,430). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $61,790 for first-line supervisors of production and operating workers in May 2021 and $74,450 in May 2025, with employment of 629,420 and 673,430.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $61,790 | $29.71 | 629,420 |
| May 2022 | $63,510 | $30.53 | 659,930 |
| May 2023 | $65,930 | $31.70 | 671,160 |
| May 2024 | $71,190 | $34.23 | 685,140 |
| May 2025 | $74,450 | $35.79 | 673,430 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming profile | $43.46 | $90,390 | $48,710 | $142,980 | 1,470 | 5.22 | 1.21 |
| 2 | Connecticut profile | $39.98 | $83,150 | $49,660 | $123,060 | 9,150 | 5.39 | 1.25 |
| 3 | Rhode Island profile | $39.25 | $81,650 | $48,080 | $133,180 | 2,660 | 5.31 | 1.22 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $38.99 | $81,110 | $48,560 | $124,370 | 15,040 | 3.51 | 0.81 |
| 5 | District of Columbia profile | $38.47 | $80,030 | $52,670 | $139,690 | 350 | 0.50 | 0.11 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $38.42 | $79,920 | $52,530 | $114,800 | 12,390 | 3.41 | 0.79 |
| 7 | New Hampshire profile | $38.13 | $79,310 | $52,800 | $118,100 | 3,000 | 4.40 | 1.01 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $38.13 | $79,310 | $55,020 | $122,830 | 14,500 | 4.08 | 0.94 |
| 9 | Delaware profile | $38.03 | $79,100 | $54,120 | $123,100 | 1,450 | 2.99 | 0.69 |
| 10 | Maine profile | $37.97 | $78,970 | $48,340 | $106,130 | 2,970 | 4.63 | 1.07 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $37.93 | $78,890 | $50,890 | $127,960 | 9,580 | 3.33 | 0.77 |
| 12 | New York profile | $37.78 | $78,580 | $50,400 | $118,680 | 20,830 | 2.15 | 0.50 |
| 13 | Minnesota profile | $37.76 | $78,550 | $56,660 | $104,080 | 13,380 | 4.54 | 1.05 |
| 14 | Maryland profile | $37.75 | $78,520 | $47,270 | $124,330 | 6,100 | 2.21 | 0.51 |
| 15 | Alaska profile | $37.48 | $77,960 | $42,220 | $128,010 | 1,110 | 3.42 | 0.79 |
| 16 | Louisiana profile | $37.27 | $77,520 | $46,670 | $147,440 | 9,350 | 4.83 | 1.12 |
| 17 | South Carolina profile | $37.26 | $77,500 | $49,720 | $103,440 | 14,570 | 6.32 | 1.46 |
| 18 | California profile | $36.94 | $76,840 | $47,530 | $125,440 | 48,550 | 2.67 | 0.62 |
| 19 | North Dakota profile | $36.71 | $76,350 | $52,450 | $129,200 | 1,650 | 3.84 | 0.89 |
| 20 | Vermont profile | $36.32 | $75,540 | $50,080 | $100,560 | 1,000 | 3.29 | 0.76 |
| 21 | Arizona profile | $36.22 | $75,330 | $48,860 | $104,900 | 8,720 | 2.69 | 0.62 |
| 22 | Illinois profile | $36.16 | $75,200 | $47,280 | $103,410 | 29,640 | 4.86 | 1.12 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania profile | $36.05 | $74,990 | $47,640 | $102,390 | 28,900 | 4.77 | 1.10 |
| 24 | Wisconsin profile | $35.98 | $74,840 | $50,690 | $101,750 | 25,500 | 8.67 | 2.00 |
| 25 | Iowa profile | $35.94 | $74,750 | $48,210 | $100,000 | 10,130 | 6.50 | 1.50 |
| 26 | Kansas profile | $35.81 | $74,480 | $49,290 | $104,450 | 7,980 | 5.55 | 1.28 |
| 27 | Virginia profile | $35.65 | $74,150 | $45,210 | $108,780 | 13,530 | 3.29 | 0.76 |
| 28 | Indiana profile | $35.55 | $73,950 | $48,110 | $101,540 | 26,870 | 8.39 | 1.94 |
| 29 | Oregon profile | $35.38 | $73,580 | $49,790 | $102,190 | 8,180 | 4.16 | 0.96 |
| 30 | Missouri profile | $35.20 | $73,210 | $46,230 | $99,020 | 15,430 | 5.26 | 1.21 |
| 31 | Alabama profile | $35.13 | $73,060 | $45,340 | $111,540 | 20,670 | 9.78 | 2.26 |
| 32 | South Dakota profile | $35.12 | $73,040 | $55,120 | $94,760 | 1,930 | 4.22 | 0.97 |
| 33 | Kentucky profile | $34.85 | $72,490 | $45,560 | $104,810 | 13,820 | 6.91 | 1.60 |
| 34 | Nebraska profile | $34.71 | $72,200 | $48,870 | $100,770 | 6,040 | 5.89 | 1.36 |
| 35 | Michigan profile | $34.70 | $72,170 | $47,330 | $101,770 | 26,650 | 6.05 | 1.40 |
| 36 | Ohio profile | $34.69 | $72,160 | $48,320 | $99,960 | 31,980 | 5.76 | 1.33 |
| 37 | Hawaii profile | $34.61 | $71,990 | $46,640 | $125,620 | 1,500 | 2.38 | 0.55 |
| 38 | Utah profile | $34.24 | $71,220 | $47,620 | $106,720 | 9,040 | 5.21 | 1.20 |
| 39 | Idaho profile | $34.08 | $70,890 | $48,020 | $102,900 | 3,900 | 4.55 | 1.05 |
| 40 | Texas profile | $33.72 | $70,140 | $43,360 | $115,230 | 58,930 | 4.19 | 0.97 |
| 41 | Oklahoma profile | $33.66 | $70,000 | $44,450 | $114,520 | 9,570 | 5.60 | 1.29 |
| 42 | North Carolina profile | $33.48 | $69,640 | $45,960 | $101,030 | 22,240 | 4.50 | 1.04 |
| 43 | Georgia profile | $33.25 | $69,170 | $45,680 | $102,960 | 26,190 | 5.36 | 1.24 |
| 44 | West Virginia profile | $33.17 | $68,990 | $45,970 | $118,510 | 3,120 | 4.44 | 1.03 |
| 45 | Montana profile | $33.06 | $68,760 | $45,820 | $108,800 | 1,860 | 3.63 | 0.84 |
| 46 | Mississippi profile | $33.04 | $68,720 | $44,990 | $107,060 | 8,230 | 7.07 | 1.63 |
| 47 | Nevada profile | $32.82 | $68,270 | $45,200 | $104,360 | 3,600 | 2.32 | 0.54 |
| 48 | Tennessee profile | $31.40 | $65,310 | $44,070 | $103,710 | 18,960 | 5.78 | 1.33 |
| 49 | New Mexico profile | $31.08 | $64,640 | $41,600 | $126,870 | 2,520 | 2.90 | 0.67 |
| 50 | Florida profile | $30.75 | $63,950 | $44,140 | $105,400 | 27,710 | 2.79 | 0.64 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $30.33 | $63,090 | $43,180 | $106,600 | 11,000 | 8.44 | 1.95 |
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-1011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-1011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.