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Advanced ManufacturingGreen JobOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.

First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers

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.

Annual openings

1,097

Median wage

$78,890

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

Growth 2026–2032

+6%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

2-5 years work experience is expected, with work as a production worker highly valued.

Employer competency information

Feedback from employers identifies the following competencies as being critical to support a successful move up to the Supervisor level

  • Communication — Continue to elevate communication skills for use with a team, client, and boss.
  • Teamwork — Consistently demonstrate the ability to work with, influence, and lead others.
  • Planning & Organizing — Strong time management skills with the ability to plan and organize the successful completion of tasks and projects for a team, adapting the plan to changing circumstances.
  • Instructing & Coaching — Move beyond being good at your job to being able to help other team members understand and develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful at their jobs.
  • Business Fundamentals — Understanding the big picture of the business and how your team fits in.
  • Working with tools and technology — Effectively utilize the tools and technology specific to your team.
Do you make all the repairs around your house? Do you travel with a toolbox? A job as a production supervisor will give you the opportunity to put those handyman skills to work in a professional setting. You’ll oversee other maintenance department employees, provide training to others and help out wherever you’re needed. Your days will be spent in every part of the facility, but your focus will be on the warehouse and the production floor, where equipment may need routine maintenance and repairs.
You’ll create or read maintenance reports and advise management on machine updates. Handling employee schedules and tasks will require a fair hand, and you’ll need to train new employees and take over repair jobs that are too complex for technicians and mechanics.
As a maintenance supervisor, you’ll also need to perform administrative work, like managing budgets and inventory. You’ll coordinate work done by utility and outside contracting companies, always making sure that the facility is in perfect working condition.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerMay vary
  • OutdoorsMay vary
  • With your handsMay vary

Interests it draws on

  • Business Support
  • Business Management

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. 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.
  2. Confer with management or subordinates to resolve worker problems, complaints, or grievances.
  3. Calculate labor and equipment requirements and production specifications, using standard formulas.
  4. Maintain operations data, such as time, production, and cost records, and prepare management reports of production results.
  5. Plan and develop new products and production processes.
  6. Enforce safety and sanitation regulations.
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