Salary guide, May 2025
Area Manager pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Industrial Production Managers in the United States was $126,060 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $98,160 and $161,880.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-3051 Industrial Production Managers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $78,000 | $98,160 | $126,060 | $161,880 | $205,520 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37.50 | $47.19 | $60.61 | $77.83 | $98.81 |
BLS estimated 246,250 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-3051 Industrial Production Managers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $120,090 | $86,300 to $164,900 | 2,300 | 0.51 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $119,360 | $84,210 to $160,800 | 1,550 | 0.68 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $121,840 | $89,090 to $166,420 | 1,050 | 0.47 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,120 | $97,770 to $164,810 | 1,010 | 0.86 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $151,630 | $117,020 to $178,570 | 7,220 | 0.48 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $151,630 | $117,020 to $178,570 | 7,220 | 0.48 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $132,990 | $98,770 to $171,080 | 5,890 | 0.92 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $129,840 | $103,990 to $165,090 | 8,850 | 1.24 |
Rank every metro for Area Manager
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$155,730
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$155,730
- Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing$145,280
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$140,800
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$139,500
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$139,030
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing$138,990
- Tobacco Manufacturing$138,300
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing$135,850
- Chemical Manufacturing$135,530
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$135,490
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$135,300
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$135,190
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$133,830
- Electrical Equipment Manufacturing$131,970
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 185,250 | $98,370 | $125,280 | $159,150 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 25,800 | $104,500 | $131,510 | $162,800 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 23,450 | $90,010 | $109,920 | $138,480 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 21,440 | $106,190 | $135,530 | $169,170 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 19,440 | $95,170 | $116,250 | $148,320 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 17,600 | $98,400 | $124,850 | $156,920 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 12,170 | $104,940 | $133,830 | $171,590 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 11,450 | $96,720 | $118,960 | $145,370 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 11,250 | $98,450 | $124,790 | $155,830 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 9,620 | $96,550 | $117,930 | $142,340 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 9,520 | $124,810 | $140,800 | $169,400 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 9,340 | $107,310 | $139,500 | $172,510 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 8,080 | $116,550 | $138,990 | $169,920 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 7,960 | $96,560 | $119,690 | $149,230 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 7,960 | $99,800 | $124,910 | $143,850 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 7,820 | $99,010 | $128,300 | $164,320 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 6,940 | $88,100 | $107,810 | $137,940 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 6,940 | $88,100 | $107,810 | $137,940 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 6,690 | $93,950 | $114,900 | $140,350 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 6,640 | $100,720 | $129,500 | $161,330 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 6,260 | $99,380 | $127,140 | $161,060 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 6,210 | $84,420 | $105,370 | $134,470 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 6,010 | $102,000 | $127,420 | $164,710 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 5,650 | $110,400 | $135,490 | $173,780 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 4,750 | $80,030 | $101,510 | $129,620 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 4,720 | $104,010 | $135,190 | $171,590 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 4,630 | $83,940 | $103,660 | $134,740 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 4,580 | $97,660 | $122,280 | $150,980 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 4,480 | $108,750 | $135,850 | $172,360 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 4,390 | $100,130 | $131,560 | $165,450 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 4,200 | $99,300 | $119,820 | $150,790 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 4,010 | $98,820 | $124,440 | $157,780 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 3,730 | $82,840 | $104,240 | $131,880 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 3,730 | $82,840 | $104,240 | $131,880 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 3,640 | $90,990 | $112,850 | $147,090 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,340 | $82,870 | $107,730 | $137,700 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 3,140 | $82,770 | $103,250 | $134,010 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 2,980 | $93,550 | $109,790 | $136,320 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 2,840 | $82,580 | $103,230 | $133,630 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 2,760 | $77,930 | $98,860 | $125,740 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 2,750 | $88,190 | $109,640 | $137,820 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 2,720 | $100,300 | $129,200 | $161,690 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 2,710 | $101,850 | $130,480 | $166,040 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,650 | $114,730 | $155,730 | $174,110 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,650 | $114,730 | $155,730 | $174,110 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 2,600 | $80,590 | $102,030 | $127,720 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 2,450 | $99,890 | $130,100 | $165,580 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 2,420 | $100,010 | $123,960 | $155,080 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 2,310 | $104,000 | $131,970 | $165,250 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 2,230 | $96,430 | $119,590 | $146,490 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 2,180 | $107,140 | $135,300 | $176,080 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 2,060 | $128,610 | $139,030 | $171,120 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 1,830 | $97,400 | $123,430 | $154,350 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 1,820 | $96,830 | $118,220 | $137,500 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 1,810 | $93,860 | $104,400 | $128,970 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 1,720 | $93,120 | $112,700 | $142,080 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,580 | $87,090 | $112,130 | $134,040 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,520 | $121,640 | $145,280 | $207,820 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 1,340 | $101,600 | $126,570 | $164,590 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 1,250 | $83,270 | $102,070 | $135,120 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 1,190 | $96,450 | $123,440 | $160,260 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,150 | $80,180 | $100,730 | $129,730 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,140 | $100,890 | $127,450 | $163,410 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 1,010 | $100,900 | $125,940 | $156,800 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 980 | $79,580 | $101,670 | $136,960 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 930 | $81,750 | $118,380 | $155,350 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 890 | $104,530 | $131,300 | $165,050 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 840 | $95,360 | $121,560 | $143,900 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 810 | $75,880 | $98,720 | $136,410 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 760 | $102,320 | $125,530 | $155,360 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 760 | $92,270 | $126,780 | $170,350 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 740 | $82,170 | $104,030 | $137,730 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 710 | $93,260 | $105,140 | $128,430 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 690 | $80,150 | $105,880 | $140,240 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 680 | $74,720 | $97,070 | $128,960 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 570 | $75,290 | $98,710 | $138,000 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 520 | $86,660 | $111,270 | $143,240 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 470 | $84,940 | $111,130 | $147,630 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 390 | $103,820 | $118,170 | $135,280 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 320 | $83,910 | $94,480 | $129,990 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 300 | $81,630 | $104,270 | $137,390 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 300 | $95,220 | $122,520 | $146,210 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 300 | $84,410 | $104,380 | $135,230 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 270 | $111,280 | $138,300 | $174,020 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 250 | $84,150 | $123,250 | $158,980 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 220 | $77,090 | $99,800 | $131,740 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 220 | $82,370 | $114,560 | $137,020 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 190 | $89,700 | $100,820 | $125,840 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 180 | $79,150 | $99,230 | $124,890 |
| 316900 | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 110 | $71,920 | $90,990 | $130,520 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 100 | $82,560 | $126,730 | $185,000 |
| 316200 | Footwear Manufacturing | 70 | $94,960 | $104,090 | $136,190 |
| 315100 | Apparel Knitting Mills | 50 | $76,600 | $94,230 | $132,750 |
| 316100 | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 40 | $79,410 | $91,090 | $143,360 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Area Manager, separate the guaranteed salary from any discretionary bonus or commission arrangement. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $94,620 | $121,440 | $156,330 |
| May 2025 | $98,160 | $126,060 | $161,880 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the decision behind the experience?
The useful evidence is how daily losses were separated from upstream supply problems, not a list of equipment or projects. Discuss what information was available during how daily losses were separated from upstream supply problems. A clear explanation exposes the equipment, shifts and supervisors included in the area much better than asking whether the candidate has held the title before.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Area Manager?
The median annual wage for Industrial Production Managers in the United States was $126,060 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $98,160 and $161,880. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $78,000. 90% earned less than $205,520.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Area Manager at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 246,250 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters tracks the Area Manager role using the Industrial Production Managers SOC category. The national median is $126,060 as of May 2025, which reflects growth from the $121,440 recorded in May 2024. Specific industries show higher medians, such as $155,730 for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing and $145,280 for Iron and Steel Mills.
These figures indicate that roles within highly capital-intensive industries consistently trend above the national average for industrial production management, providing a clear benchmark for candidates in these sectors.
The national P25 to P75 middle-band width is $63,720, with a range between $98,160 and $161,880. Examining key employment hubs, the median for Los Angeles is $128,540, and the median for Chicago is $129,840. These figures demonstrate that area management pay is relatively competitive across different regional industrial centers. These medians represent base annual salary and ignore supplemental pay such as night-shift premiums, performance incentives, or profit-sharing agreements that are often critical in manufacturing environments. Consequently, the actual take-home pay may vary based on plant-level agreements.
The role of an Area Manager involves owning the performance of a specific production area. This includes troubleshooting daily losses and distinguishing them from upstream supply issues. The scope encompasses the equipment, assigned shifts, and teams within that area. This differs from a plant-wide management role because it focuses on a specific node within the broader value chain. BLS reporting for Industrial Production Managers offers a consistent data point for these management levels, though it does not account for the specific technical certifications or the size of the area managed, which are primary factors in setting individual base pay levels.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What is the median salary for this role compared to the May 2024 data?
The current national median is $126,060, which is an increase of $4,620 from the $121,440 median recorded in May 2024. This reflects a steady progression in the industrial production management category.
What is the middle-band width for this position?
The national middle-band width is $63,720. This is calculated from the gap between the 25th percentile ($98,160) and the 75th percentile ($161,880).
How do key regional manufacturing hubs compare to the national median?
Hubs like Los Angeles and Chicago show medians of $128,540 and $129,840 respectively. Both are slightly higher than the national median of $126,060, highlighting the regional demand for production leadership.
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