Salary guide, May 2025
Director of Manufacturing 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 General and Operations Managers in the United States was $105,770 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $72,320 and $167,280.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-1021 General and Operations Managers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,090 | $72,320 | $105,770 | $167,280 | $253,390 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $24.08 | $34.77 | $50.85 | $80.42 | $121.82 |
BLS estimated 3,503,020 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-1021 General and Operations 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 | $105,640 | $71,390 to $162,400 | 74,960 | 1.18 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $103,670 | $70,790 to $167,250 | 35,700 | 1.1 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $100,440 | $65,800 to $156,260 | 27,430 | 0.86 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $114,940 | $77,590 to $176,080 | 9,520 | 0.57 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $157,000 | $100,040 to $226,350 | 177,850 | 0.83 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $157,000 | $100,040 to $226,350 | 177,850 | 0.83 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $111,010 | $71,040 to $173,250 | 125,090 | 1.37 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $109,390 | $76,900 to $175,170 | 122,930 | 1.21 |
Rank every metro for Director of Manufacturing
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.
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$180,220
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing$172,620
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$172,120
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$171,090
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$170,400
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$169,780
- Electrical Equipment Manufacturing$167,710
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$167,440
- Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media$164,330
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing$162,730
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing$161,510
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$160,990
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$160,960
- Paper Manufacturing$160,810
- Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel$160,680
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 | 249,060 | $88,400 | $130,960 | $195,100 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 39,120 | $89,430 | $126,810 | $172,830 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 24,900 | $100,520 | $142,790 | $206,260 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 21,880 | $118,720 | $170,400 | $228,300 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 21,670 | $75,370 | $113,740 | $172,530 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 20,740 | $105,770 | $159,990 | $217,480 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 19,590 | $107,830 | $156,010 | $207,210 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 17,830 | $78,630 | $123,670 | $179,150 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 16,160 | $102,800 | $150,140 | $210,650 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 12,500 | $64,900 | $96,630 | $138,950 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 12,500 | $64,900 | $96,630 | $138,950 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 12,380 | $89,770 | $127,330 | $172,360 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 12,370 | $82,540 | $120,190 | $162,500 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 10,660 | $71,010 | $103,510 | $160,720 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 10,220 | $80,690 | $117,830 | $158,980 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 10,140 | $97,710 | $134,820 | $204,820 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 10,020 | $98,730 | $138,930 | $201,590 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 9,970 | $78,710 | $111,700 | $161,090 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 9,970 | $78,710 | $111,700 | $161,090 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 9,600 | $124,800 | $172,120 | $220,270 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 9,150 | $123,740 | $169,780 | $215,780 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 8,510 | $107,950 | $161,510 | $218,320 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 8,380 | $72,010 | $103,400 | $156,500 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 8,280 | $74,060 | $105,090 | $152,310 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 8,130 | $101,470 | $144,190 | $204,760 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 7,870 | $108,920 | $158,770 | $215,100 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 7,730 | $72,350 | $102,950 | $155,750 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 7,370 | $122,210 | $172,620 | $234,930 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 7,240 | $65,500 | $93,320 | $135,080 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 7,170 | $100,770 | $148,360 | $212,340 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 7,040 | $64,990 | $92,050 | $133,200 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 6,080 | $117,480 | $171,090 | $264,440 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 5,490 | $93,930 | $130,620 | $197,680 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 5,360 | $61,290 | $93,200 | $135,220 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 5,270 | $72,150 | $104,980 | $154,190 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 5,110 | $100,450 | $143,190 | $204,050 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 4,760 | $84,800 | $123,200 | $166,180 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 4,630 | $76,370 | $122,800 | $185,100 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 4,630 | $96,470 | $135,700 | $196,160 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 4,310 | $116,030 | $160,810 | $220,840 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 4,230 | $91,770 | $122,880 | $163,990 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3,600 | $105,770 | $160,350 | $218,870 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 3,580 | $114,600 | $159,180 | $216,920 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 3,330 | $121,250 | $167,710 | $221,400 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 2,670 | $65,350 | $93,610 | $136,200 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 2,660 | $82,400 | $126,070 | $185,900 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 2,650 | $102,340 | $159,250 | $218,220 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,550 | $107,200 | $162,730 | $215,480 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 2,260 | $124,730 | $180,220 | $258,950 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 2,230 | $61,930 | $96,060 | $155,100 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,230 | $118,400 | $156,820 | $216,260 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,230 | $118,400 | $156,820 | $216,260 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 2,170 | $85,340 | $129,850 | $179,200 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 2,140 | $94,730 | $129,770 | $197,420 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 2,080 | $65,350 | $90,990 | $134,440 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 2,050 | $78,120 | $135,060 | $194,500 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 1,940 | $84,650 | $121,840 | $172,980 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 1,930 | $86,400 | $126,460 | $184,880 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 1,890 | $91,230 | $127,020 | $179,150 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 1,780 | $61,130 | $93,070 | $156,670 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 1,650 | $96,260 | $132,650 | $172,510 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 1,590 | $68,710 | $100,480 | $147,700 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 1,440 | $109,580 | $160,960 | $217,550 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,420 | $83,310 | $113,060 | $151,640 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 1,350 | $56,970 | $93,100 | $160,810 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 1,340 | $85,130 | $129,980 | $195,850 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,240 | $100,130 | $134,220 | $189,240 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 1,200 | $101,580 | $138,830 | $200,130 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 1,170 | $100,100 | $150,510 | $210,900 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 1,100 | $113,930 | $160,680 | $204,050 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,040 | $97,070 | $140,420 | $207,400 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 970 | $74,590 | $110,500 | $155,630 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 960 | $103,780 | $156,720 | $213,030 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 860 | $130,950 | $160,990 | $209,670 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 820 | $65,500 | $98,640 | $157,410 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 810 | $93,830 | $131,850 | $187,620 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 720 | $124,810 | $167,440 | $241,290 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 690 | $135,230 | $164,330 | $230,940 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 660 | $88,040 | $126,100 | $202,940 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 650 | $67,640 | $108,910 | $163,080 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 600 | $76,780 | $132,620 | $200,240 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 590 | $86,470 | $137,410 | $190,140 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 590 | $66,090 | $96,470 | $140,640 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 560 | $68,360 | $101,430 | $155,790 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 500 | $85,930 | $135,040 | $200,490 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 400 | $94,970 | $137,060 | $212,890 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 380 | $72,660 | $99,950 | $151,740 |
| 316900 | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 320 | $73,720 | $103,160 | $170,900 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 300 | $123,100 | $154,840 | $208,960 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 200 | $108,800 | $157,810 | $191,100 |
| 316200 | Footwear Manufacturing | 160 | $60,220 | $105,630 | $135,510 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 100 | $61,700 | $113,690 | $166,570 |
| 316100 | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 70 | $66,900 | $76,720 | $117,040 |
| 315100 | Apparel Knitting Mills | 60 | $77,180 | $115,460 | $149,040 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Director of Manufacturing, 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 | $67,160 | $102,950 | $164,130 |
| May 2025 | $72,320 | $105,770 | $167,280 |
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 actual remit?
Write down who is accountable for production performance and manufacturing standards across assigned plants today. If responsibility for production performance and manufacturing standards across assigned plants is divided between several people, tell us where this hire's work begins and ends. That explanation helps separate their capability from a team's success at production performance and manufacturing standards across assigned plants.
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 Director of Manufacturing?
The median annual wage for General and Operations Managers in the United States was $105,770 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $72,320 and $167,280. 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 $50,090. 90% earned less than $253,390.
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 Director of Manufacturing 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 3,503,020 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
CEO / President (Manufacturing) pay Chief Operating Officer (COO) pay VP of Operations pay VP of Manufacturing pay Regional VP of Operations pay Director of Manufacturing pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Director of Manufacturing recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters evaluates the Director of Manufacturing role by analyzing broader General and Operations Manager data. The national median for this occupation is $105,770 as of May 2025. This represents an increase from the $102,950 median recorded in May 2024.
National industry data reveals significant variance, with Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing median reaching $180,220, Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing at $172,620, and Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing at $172,120. These figures illustrate the high earning potential in technical manufacturing sectors, though the broader SOC classification includes non-manufacturing roles that dampen the average.
The national P25 to P75 middle-band width is $94,960, ranging from $72,320 to $167,280. When examining top occupational hubs like New York-Newark-Jersey City, we see a median of $157,000 against a national median of $105,770. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington hub shows a median of $111,010. These differences underscore local cost-of-living and concentration variations. The data excludes critical non-cash components like equity grants, long-term incentive plans, and annual performance bonuses which often constitute a large portion of a Director's actual compensation package.
The role demands expertise in manufacturing execution and managing process standards across varied equipment sets. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to maintain consistency during shift changes and equipment maintenance cycles. This is distinct from supply chain management or corporate business ownership. The BLS data does not isolate the manufacturing Director specifically, meaning the reported figures should be viewed as broad market indicators rather than a reflection of specific plant-level organizational structures. Recruiters emphasize that actual placement pay is contingent upon specific industry sector and proven operational efficiency.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The national median of $105,770 is lower than both the New York-Newark-Jersey City median of $157,000 and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington median of $111,010. These regional figures reflect higher market demand and cost of living in those specific major metropolitan areas.
How does the national median for this role compare to high-employment hubs?
The national median of $105,770 is lower than both the New York-Newark-Jersey City median of $157,000 and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington median of $111,010. These regional figures reflect higher market demand and cost of living in those specific major metropolitan areas.
What is the P25 to P75 band width for this occupation?
The national middle-band width for this role is $94,960. This reflects a range between the 25th percentile of $72,320 and the 75th percentile of $167,280.
Does the BLS data include all compensation components for a Director?
No, the provided BLS figures exclude significant pay components such as performance bonuses, equity grants, and long-term incentive plans. These elements frequently comprise a substantial portion of the total compensation package for this seniority level.
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