How To Become An Assistant Plant Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant plant manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Positions as assistant plant managers exist in a wide variety of industries. Almost every manufacturing company has a plant and requires someone to oversee the plant's operations. They mainly assist the plant manager in overseeing the plant duties and shadow him or her to one day qualify for their managerial role.

Some of the functions they perform include supervising processes and staff to meet specified plant production goals, supervising and training plant employees, enforcing safety policies and procedures, assisting the plant manager in plant activities, and maximizing yields, workflow, and schedules. These jobs require at least a bachelor's degree; though, employers may prefer a master of business administration (MBA) or another post-baccalaureate degree. Some work experience is also frequently required, including in supervisory roles or management positions. Employers may require applicants have additional specific skill sets as well.

The average hourly salary for the position is $19.04, which equates to $67,715 annually. The career is likely to experience some growth in the near future and create new opportunities across the United States.

ScoreAssistant Plant ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.7

Avg. Salary $85,755

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.9

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 8.19%

Black or African American 3.98%

Hispanic or Latino 13.72%

Unknown 3.89%

White 69.70%

Gender

female 9.77%

male 90.23%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress Level

9.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.3

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

2.2

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assistant plant manager

Explore assistant plant manager education requirements

Most common assistant plant manager degrees

Bachelor's

63.0 %

Associate

14.7 %

High School Diploma

11.2 %

Start to develop specific assistant plant manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Safety Program	7.68%
OSHA	6.96%
Plant Operations	6.79%
Continuous Improvement	6.08%
Production Schedules	4.43%

Complete relevant assistant plant manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant plant managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant plant manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant plant manager resumes.

Gain additional assistant plant manager certifications

Assistant plant manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific assistant plant manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for assistant plant managers include Certified Security Supervision & Management (CSS) and Six Sigma Green Belt.

More About Certifications

Research assistant plant manager duties and responsibilities

Work with buyers to negotiate terms and manage supplier PPAP's.
Report to President/Co-owner and manage 2 QC employees and 4 production supervisors.
Manage daily operations of USDA facility.
Coordinate daily and monthly production planning, update operation sheets to ensure that FDA regulations and GMP's are met.

Prepare your assistant plant manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant plant manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant plant manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Assistant Plant Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Assistant Plant Manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Assistant Plant Manager resume.

Apply for assistant plant manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an assistant plant manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do assistant plant managers rate their job?