Industrial Engineer
Median wage · national
$102,440
Range: $84K – $129K
Employed
366K
Openings/yr
25K
Typically: bachelor's degree
BUSINESS
Industrial Production Managers
Industrial Production Managers earn $126,060 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $98,160 and $161,880. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Industrial Production Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.
- Median Wage
- $126,060
- Employed Nationally
- 246K
- Openings / Year
- 17,100
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Area Plant Manager
Assembly Manager
Bulk Plant Manager
Car Construction Superintendent
Concrete Mixing Plant Superintendent
How Much Do Industrial Production Managers Make?
Industrial Production Managers earn $126,060 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $98,160 and $161,880. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$126,060
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$98K–$162K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$98,160
Entry-level
$126,060
Median
$161,880
Experienced
What Do Industrial Production Managers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Industrial Production Managers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
- Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
- 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.
- Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
- Hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Quality Control Analysis
Who Thrives Here
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Where Do Industrial Production Managers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Industrial Production Managers?
The BLS projects +1.9% employment change for Industrial Production Managers through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 17,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +1.9%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Slower than average.
17,100
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
246K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Industrial Production Managers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $126,060 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 25,380 | $129,160 | +2.5% |
| 2 | Texas | 21,780 | $127,840 | +1.4% |
| 3 | Michigan | 14,400 | $111,130 | -11.8% |
| 4 | Ohio | 13,860 | $103,230 | -18.1% |
| 5 | Illinois | 11,920 | $120,320 | -4.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Industrial Production Managers positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 395,227 | $68,257 | 2,611 |
| 2 | Business | 57,204 | $68,407 | 933 |
| 3 | Pharmacy | 18,729 | $116,539 | 194 |
| 4 | Industrial Engineering | 8,722 | $98,442 | 155 |
| 5 | Environmental Tech | 7,918 | $89,619 | 227 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Industrial Production Managers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Industrial Production Managers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Industrial Production Managers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Industrial Production Managers Pros & Cons
The data on Industrial Production Managers shows 3 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $126,060 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $161,880 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Wide job market 246K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +1.9% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $126,060 median while building the experience employers require.
Industrial Production Managers Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Industrial Production Managers professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Industrial Production Managers is $126,060, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $98,160 and $161,880. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Industrial Production Managers a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $126,060 median, though slow job growth means most openings come from workers leaving the field rather than new positions being created. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Industrial Production Managers?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $126,060 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Industrial Production Managers?
The BLS projects +1.9% employment change for Industrial Production Managers through 2034, slower than average compared to all occupations. About 17,100 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 246K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Industrial Production Managers salaries vary so widely?
The $63,720 gap between the 25th ($98,160) and 75th ($161,880) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Industrial Production Managers professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Industrial Production Managers roles: Active Listening, Speaking, Speaking, Critical Thinking, and Quality Control Analysis. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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- Master's degree
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-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
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- Job outlook
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