Salary guide, May 2025
Shipping Supervisor 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 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors in the United States was $62,890 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $50,070 and $78,160.
Broader occupation · SOC 53-1047 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Shipping Supervisor 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $43,360 | $50,070 | $62,890 | $78,160 | $96,150 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20.85 | $24.07 | $30.23 | $37.58 | $46.23 |
BLS estimated 623,640 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 53-1047 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors, 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 | $61,780 | $49,660 to $78,170 | 11,080 | 0.98 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $61,640 | $49,340 to $76,960 | 4,560 | 0.79 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $60,880 | $48,940 to $76,300 | 4,980 | 0.88 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $60,370 | $49,060 to $74,850 | 2,700 | 0.91 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,510 | $56,260 to $88,260 | 35,860 | 0.94 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,510 | $56,260 to $88,260 | 35,860 | 0.94 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,260 | $47,730 to $77,530 | 19,490 | 1.2 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $68,330 | $56,910 to $80,570 | 19,280 | 1.07 |
Rank every metro for Shipping Supervisor
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.
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$83,500
- Tobacco Manufacturing$81,270
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing$79,440
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$79,320
- Grain and Oilseed Milling$78,560
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$78,300
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$78,300
- Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$77,670
- Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing$77,110
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$77,010
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$76,820
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing$75,870
- Beverage Manufacturing$75,830
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$75,100
- Dairy Product Manufacturing$75,000
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 | 46,250 | $57,010 | $68,960 | $81,120 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 11,810 | $57,010 | $69,100 | $80,530 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 3,820 | $60,750 | $73,440 | $86,560 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 3,510 | $54,800 | $64,800 | $77,960 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 3,450 | $58,740 | $71,310 | $87,360 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 3,450 | $58,740 | $71,310 | $87,360 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 3,320 | $60,250 | $70,630 | $82,460 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 2,910 | $57,050 | $70,090 | $81,810 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 2,710 | $64,800 | $75,870 | $83,580 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 2,660 | $64,800 | $75,830 | $83,500 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 2,560 | $56,940 | $67,360 | $80,170 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 2,340 | $57,820 | $70,410 | $81,190 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 2,340 | $57,650 | $69,750 | $81,830 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 2,310 | $58,240 | $69,100 | $79,080 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 2,300 | $57,000 | $67,420 | $80,090 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 1,890 | $51,840 | $63,620 | $77,320 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,860 | $53,180 | $62,750 | $77,610 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,770 | $50,430 | $61,780 | $76,420 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 1,590 | $56,240 | $66,200 | $79,380 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 1,540 | $56,510 | $71,520 | $79,870 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 1,500 | $57,110 | $64,700 | $79,160 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 1,430 | $62,340 | $76,820 | $91,470 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 1,410 | $62,540 | $75,000 | $82,350 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 1,380 | $59,060 | $71,850 | $82,580 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 1,340 | $54,080 | $65,350 | $78,750 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 1,310 | $54,970 | $66,340 | $82,690 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 1,250 | $56,240 | $65,740 | $80,250 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 1,230 | $62,420 | $74,700 | $90,620 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 1,160 | $57,440 | $67,670 | $78,050 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 1,140 | $58,220 | $69,520 | $80,240 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 1,130 | $56,710 | $70,380 | $83,620 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,090 | $49,350 | $60,470 | $76,430 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 960 | $53,800 | $61,760 | $76,810 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 920 | $52,770 | $62,150 | $75,290 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 900 | $52,900 | $64,360 | $80,280 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 870 | $49,310 | $61,090 | $72,890 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 870 | $49,310 | $61,090 | $72,890 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 850 | $52,770 | $61,930 | $74,530 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 730 | $55,730 | $64,630 | $79,730 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 700 | $60,140 | $78,560 | $96,120 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 630 | $55,930 | $63,470 | $74,170 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 580 | $59,450 | $72,590 | $78,420 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 570 | $50,200 | $64,840 | $80,960 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 560 | $62,240 | $66,020 | $80,620 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 490 | $63,980 | $78,300 | $94,660 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 490 | $63,980 | $78,300 | $94,660 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 480 | $58,380 | $72,690 | $86,180 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 470 | $61,500 | $75,100 | $83,910 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 460 | $51,990 | $63,970 | $76,420 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 440 | $57,620 | $66,200 | $74,610 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 440 | $67,850 | $79,320 | $90,630 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 430 | $58,730 | $66,550 | $80,540 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 370 | $46,790 | $56,270 | $72,980 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 350 | $54,200 | $70,370 | $82,310 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 320 | $51,610 | $56,810 | $69,680 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 300 | $47,870 | $57,810 | $73,800 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 300 | $56,470 | $70,650 | $82,330 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 290 | $50,820 | $62,350 | $73,970 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 280 | $60,340 | $66,900 | $83,290 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 270 | $49,970 | $64,320 | $81,500 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 260 | $48,890 | $56,390 | $68,820 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 260 | $56,470 | $67,150 | $82,390 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 240 | $60,160 | $79,440 | $93,910 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 240 | $50,000 | $67,430 | $78,880 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 230 | $66,460 | $77,010 | $92,420 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 220 | $51,620 | $61,450 | $74,990 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 220 | $47,660 | $70,390 | $77,430 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 210 | $72,020 | $83,500 | $96,030 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 200 | $50,530 | $62,750 | $74,230 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 200 | $57,000 | $73,060 | $82,700 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 190 | $52,520 | $60,960 | $66,590 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 190 | $63,870 | $72,500 | $87,670 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 180 | $51,620 | $70,790 | $81,080 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 150 | $47,290 | $54,640 | $68,000 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 150 | $44,650 | $63,170 | $80,440 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 130 | $55,990 | $62,640 | $82,650 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 130 | $74,030 | $77,670 | $88,160 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 110 | $50,530 | $60,500 | $70,150 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 100 | $50,320 | $65,810 | $75,410 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 100 | $49,100 | $55,870 | $73,680 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 70 | $42,810 | $43,430 | $60,210 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 70 | $59,070 | $70,840 | $84,530 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 60 | $52,570 | $81,270 | $87,920 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 60 | $49,760 | $58,460 | $71,920 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 60 | $48,310 | $53,800 | $63,250 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 50 | $49,550 | $56,780 | $71,330 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 50 | $61,380 | $73,260 | $75,600 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 50 | $56,260 | $64,080 | $80,180 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 40 | $59,880 | $77,110 | $95,710 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 30 | $37,720 | $45,490 | $56,270 |
| 315100 | Apparel Knitting Mills | Not published by BLS | $46,140 | $54,080 | $56,090 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Shipping Supervisor, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. 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 | $48,750 | $61,890 | $77,520 |
| May 2025 | $50,070 | $62,890 | $78,160 |
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.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Worker occupation: Certified Forklift Operator pay (SOC 53-7051)
- Worker occupation: Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger pay (SOC 53-7021)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about an interview based on the work?
Build the interview around shipping crews and safe execution of the plant's outbound plan. A practical discussion of a shipment exception resolved against the order and material records can test judgment without using confidential drawings or customer information. Those limits help establish formal shipping supervision rather than general warehouse management; they are part of competence, not a weakness to talk around.
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 Shipping Supervisor?
The median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors in the United States was $62,890 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $50,070 and $78,160. 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 $43,360. 90% earned less than $96,150.
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 Shipping Supervisor at a plant?
Shipping Supervisor 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 623,640 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
Shipping & Receiving Lead pay Inventory Control Specialist pay Certified Forklift Operator pay Overhead Crane Operator & Rigger pay Hazmat Shipping Specialist pay Shipping Supervisor pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Shipping Supervisor recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters reviews the national compensation for Shipping Supervisors, an occupation formally categorized as First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers. BLS data from May 2025 shows a national median of $62,890 for the 623,640 individuals in this role, reflecting a $1,000 median increase since May 2024.
The middle band width for this occupation is $28,090, with a P25 of $50,070 and a P75 of $78,160. This reflects the variation in shift structures, plant size, and specific material handling responsibilities which the SOC code does not individually delineate.
National manufacturing industry benchmarks offer additional perspective for hiring managers. In Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, the national median is $83,500. Tobacco Manufacturing reports a national median of $81,270, and Nonferrous Metal Production shows $79,440. These industry figures are higher than the general occupational median, which suggests that plant-specific complexity and safety requirements are rewarded with higher compensation in specialized sectors. These figures represent base salary only and do not encompass performance bonuses or specific non-cash incentives often required to recruit for critical shipping and logistics oversight.
Comparing the national data against major employment hubs, New York-Newark-Jersey City reports a median of $71,510 with a $32,000 middle band width. In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, the median is $62,190 with a $28,190 middle band width. The higher median in the New York-Newark metro reflects local market variations for logistics oversight. These figures are based on the broader SOC 53-1047, and the scope of work described in our screening process includes specific shipment exception resolution against order and material records, which may require professional oversight beyond general warehouse management. Use these benchmarks to refine your site-level talent acquisition strategies.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Are these shipping supervisor figures industry-specific?
No, these are broad occupational figures that aggregate many different logistics environments and shift types. You must account for your specific manufacturing process complexity when assessing these medians.
How does the national industry median differ from the occupational median?
The occupational median covers all sectors, whereas the industry median specifically looks at the pay of employees within that NAICS code. Higher industry medians often signal the need for more specialized logistics credentials.
Does the $28,090 band width indicate a salary floor?
No, it represents the statistical spread between the 25th and 75th percentiles of current earnings. It does not dictate hiring offers but rather describes the existing range in the broader market.
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