First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of first-line supervisors of production and operating workers to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035 (about 12,400 more jobs), with about 61,000 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $74,450 a year ranks 284th of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +1.8%
- Openings a year
- 61,000
- Median pay
- $74,450
- Pay rank
- 284th of 825
Is employment of first-line supervisors of production and operating workers growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of production and operating workers to rise 1.8% (about 12,400 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is faster than the -0.4% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 105 production occupations with a projection. That change ranks 503rd of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 679,900 |
| Employment, 2035 | 692,300 |
| Projected change | +1.8% |
| Openings a year | 61,000 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 679,900 jobs here differ from the 673,430 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 61,000 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 71st most of 830 occupations. About 98% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 1,240 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for first-line supervisors of production and operating workers rank?
The median of $74,450 a year ranks 284th of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on both pay and openings.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: high school diploma or equivalent.
- Work experience in a related occupation: less than 5 years.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | +4.1% | 48,900 | $79,860 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | +5.0% | 67,000 | $79,920 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | +3.8% | 7,200 | $59,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | +0.1% | 127,400 | $69,500 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers | +3.2% | 30,800 | $49,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | +5.4% | 171,500 | $44,080 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | +3.7% | 6,800 | $55,940 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.