Salary guide, May 2025
Senior Plant Controller 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 Financial Managers in the United States was $166,570 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $125,490 and $219,980.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-3031 Financial Managers
Senior Plant Controller is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $94,310 | $125,490 | $166,570 | $219,980 | $323,270 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $45.34 | $60.33 | $80.08 | $105.76 | $155.42 |
BLS estimated 841,710 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-3031 Financial 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 | $164,230 | $120,570 to $221,590 | 14,540 | 0.95 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $157,480 | $111,910 to $204,450 | 8,500 | 1.08 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $140,850 | $102,700 to $202,280 | 6,190 | 0.81 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $163,130 | $131,060 to $216,200 | 3,690 | 0.92 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $221,010 | $170,860 to $327,970 | 89,960 | 1.75 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $221,010 | $170,860 to $327,970 | 89,960 | 1.75 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $169,200 | $132,320 to $218,170 | 26,600 | 1.21 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $168,810 | $131,120 to $220,150 | 41,590 | 1.7 |
Rank every metro for Senior Plant Controller
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.
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing$210,870
- Tobacco Manufacturing$209,700
- Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing$196,090
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$194,670
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$192,480
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$189,140
- Apparel Manufacturing$183,720
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing$183,020
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$179,660
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$178,560
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing$177,390
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$177,390
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$177,390
- Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing$176,090
- Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media$175,350
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 | 46,980 | $130,010 | $164,400 | $211,550 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 6,860 | $153,490 | $189,140 | $237,860 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 5,490 | $126,810 | $160,760 | $203,330 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 5,350 | $131,410 | $165,420 | $207,950 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 5,240 | $137,780 | $171,540 | $219,160 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 4,630 | $122,310 | $152,770 | $194,730 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3,860 | $125,610 | $160,200 | $201,060 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 3,720 | $128,920 | $162,360 | $210,140 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 2,970 | $132,440 | $170,090 | $222,020 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 2,910 | $158,980 | $194,670 | $233,320 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 2,560 | $148,160 | $183,020 | $227,140 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 2,340 | $149,970 | $179,660 | $219,250 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 2,300 | $124,420 | $154,610 | $194,760 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 2,140 | $133,220 | $167,780 | $209,990 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 2,080 | $126,780 | $159,540 | $202,900 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 1,990 | $162,950 | $192,480 | $253,860 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 1,910 | $124,810 | $155,000 | $198,430 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 1,850 | $142,680 | $177,390 | $236,350 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 1,740 | $133,810 | $166,490 | $211,930 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 1,730 | $121,030 | $139,780 | $174,520 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 1,510 | $117,830 | $145,650 | $187,170 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 1,340 | $131,230 | $158,600 | $183,890 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 1,320 | $122,220 | $153,650 | $197,660 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,120 | $120,520 | $155,390 | $200,970 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 1,080 | $99,990 | $134,010 | $180,350 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 1,050 | $129,900 | $158,740 | $188,340 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 1,020 | $99,990 | $132,030 | $173,510 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 1,020 | $116,240 | $145,320 | $191,740 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 1,020 | $116,240 | $145,320 | $191,740 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 940 | $141,140 | $178,560 | $248,040 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 930 | $128,660 | $163,920 | $207,830 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 900 | $140,110 | $176,090 | $226,590 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 870 | $124,610 | $145,630 | $170,170 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 870 | $124,610 | $145,630 | $170,170 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 870 | $117,770 | $150,800 | $186,050 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 850 | $127,350 | $161,700 | $195,460 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 800 | $116,720 | $142,790 | $189,820 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 790 | $136,440 | $170,190 | $219,920 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 730 | $130,600 | $165,700 | $214,130 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 680 | $115,410 | $144,730 | $194,860 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 670 | $106,930 | $139,850 | $178,510 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 650 | $137,880 | $170,260 | $225,150 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 550 | $127,470 | $162,640 | $210,950 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 530 | $114,350 | $149,980 | $185,220 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 520 | $129,890 | $160,770 | $209,270 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 490 | $118,430 | $143,930 | $204,990 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 480 | $116,580 | $151,080 | $175,500 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 460 | $139,360 | $177,390 | $240,310 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 460 | $139,360 | $177,390 | $240,310 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 420 | $129,270 | $163,840 | $201,740 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 410 | $135,470 | $166,910 | $217,200 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 400 | $131,410 | $164,000 | $206,490 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 390 | $105,470 | $148,040 | $187,620 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 390 | $119,620 | $145,670 | $179,760 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 340 | $110,040 | $142,990 | $208,470 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 340 | $121,720 | $151,260 | $189,370 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 340 | $130,780 | $162,400 | $207,240 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 320 | $130,540 | $160,830 | $205,910 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 320 | $126,250 | $147,410 | $182,690 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 300 | $134,100 | $166,030 | $207,000 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 300 | $118,300 | $148,660 | $172,780 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 280 | $134,550 | $183,720 | $269,990 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 280 | $136,690 | $158,460 | $177,550 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 260 | $140,700 | $196,090 | $270,000 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 250 | $123,940 | $163,950 | $224,400 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 250 | $140,850 | $174,990 | $270,140 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 240 | $122,150 | $155,210 | $193,410 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 230 | $126,820 | $155,490 | $217,170 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 230 | $131,560 | $158,340 | $200,140 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 220 | $166,740 | $210,870 | $245,860 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 200 | $126,360 | $166,810 | $229,850 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 170 | $116,990 | $149,990 | $182,700 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 160 | $107,720 | $146,060 | $185,190 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 150 | $104,330 | $144,960 | $180,450 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 150 | $152,200 | $175,350 | $223,060 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 140 | $125,520 | $155,450 | $215,830 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 140 | $127,530 | $161,720 | $176,120 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 140 | $131,130 | $169,200 | $207,390 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 130 | $109,830 | $131,020 | $155,890 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 120 | $120,630 | $139,990 | $173,540 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 100 | $107,220 | $148,460 | $185,110 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 80 | $100,000 | $153,630 | $196,860 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 80 | $128,330 | $165,720 | $209,760 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 80 | $136,760 | $164,800 | $183,710 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 70 | $104,580 | $130,970 | $165,720 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 60 | $168,150 | $209,700 | $253,960 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 60 | $107,800 | $136,880 | $195,430 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 50 | $92,440 | $156,040 | $181,990 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Senior Plant Controller, 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 | $118,360 | $161,700 | $214,210 |
| May 2025 | $125,490 | $166,570 | $219,980 |
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 a move that can hold up?
Someone working in plant controllers already accountable for difficult manufacturing finance work needs a clear reason to leave. If the answer depends on authority over plant finance decisions in a complex operating and accounting environment that you cannot offer, that mismatch belongs in the conversation before an offer.
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 Senior Plant Controller?
The median annual wage for Financial Managers in the United States was $166,570 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $125,490 and $219,980. 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 $94,310. 90% earned less than $323,270.
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 Senior Plant Controller at a plant?
Senior Plant Controller is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 841,710 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Senior plant controllers provide cost and inventory judgments directly to the plant leadership team. We analyze this role using the Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031) national dataset, which shows a median of $166,570, up $4,870 from the prior median of $161,700. The middle band width is $94,490, based on the P25 and P75 figures of $125,490 and $219,980.
Note that BLS data consists of base wages and does not reflect total cash compensation, such as annual bonuses.
Manufacturing industries illustrate specific pay premiums for this occupation. Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing reports a median of $210,870, Tobacco Manufacturing $209,700, and Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing $196,090. These industry figures offer a sharper focus than the national general average. Since the BLS does not have a unique code for plant controllers, these broader categories provide the most relevant frame of reference for the seniority expected in this position.
High-employment metros highlight regional pay variances. New York reports a median of $221,010 and a middle band width of $157,110. Chicago shows a median of $168,810 with a middle band width of $89,030. Manufacturing Headhunters observes these differences as standard for major industrial hubs. The location quotient is a tool to measure industry presence, not candidate availability. This role requires specific senior accounting scope, meaning the candidate should demonstrate the ability to present findings to leadership, not just manage multi-site authority. Use the published middle band width to calibrate offers for different levels of technical and communication expertise.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How should I handle the broad occupational scope for this role?
Since no specific code covers senior plant controllers, you should map the position's core requirements to the P25-P75 middle band. This ensures your budget remains consistent with the broader financial management market.
Are the comparison metros indicative of regional trends?
Yes, they show higher pay concentrations than the national median. Use these specific benchmarks to understand your budget requirements when hiring in these high-volume markets.
Why are bonuses excluded from these salary figures?
The BLS provides data on base wages only, omitting any performance-based incentives. Add these benefits to your budget to remain competitive for senior-level plant roles.
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