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What is a line leader and how to become one
Line leaders are an essential part of the manufacturing industry, typically working in factories or other production facilities. They are responsible for supervising production in their department, primarily managing the performance of assembly line workers.
They make sure the department delivers orders on time and create reports on the quality and timeliness of the work. They monitor productivity, identify and resolve any issue that might hold up the production, and keep track of inventory. They are responsible for maintaining a clean and safe working environment as well.
No higher education is needed for this position: a high school diploma will do. You do need to have years of experience in manufacturing, though, so this is not an entry-level position. You need to know your way around industry regulations and have excellent problem solving and leadership skills to guide your team.
Avg. Salary $36,217
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%
Asian 4.74%
Black or African American 12.59%
Hispanic or Latino 16.45%
Unknown 4.10%
White 61.41%
Genderfemale 43.00%
male 57.00%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Line Leader career paths
Key steps to become a line leader
Explore line leader education requirements
Start to develop specific line leader skills
Skills 
Percentages Continuous Improvement 9.08% Customer Service 8.65% Safety Procedures 8.24% Quality Checks 5.74% Assembly Line 5.48% Complete relevant line leader training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New line leaders 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 a line leader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real line leader resumes.Gain additional line leader certifications
More About CertificationsLine leader 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 line leader certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for line leaders include OSHA Safety Certificate and Forklift Safety and Inspector.
Research line leader duties and responsibilities
- Lead Kaizen event to establish best practices for estimating methodology and reporting templates.
- Manage and develop associates base on organizational and developmental needs/conduct monthly one-on-ones with each employee to provide guidance and leadership.
- Gain knowledge of USDA, OSHA, HACCP, VPP, and ISO regulations and requirements within a manufacturing environment.
- Walk with QA and USDA around floor to ensure are that all areas are up to standards and ready for production.
Get line leader experience
Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a line leader. The most common roles before becoming a line leader include cashier, machine operator team lead and customer service representative.Prepare your line leader resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your line leader 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 a line leader resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Line Leader Resume templates
Build a professional Line Leader 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 Line Leader resume.
Apply for line leader jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a line leader 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 Did You Land Your First Line Leader Job
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Average line leader salary
The average Line Leader salary in the United States is $36,217 per year or $17 per hour. Line leader salaries range between $23,000 and $55,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do line leaders rate their job?
Line Leader reviews
Being part of the core team, making desicions and having a positive impact on my team daily , Expressing my abilities to grow as a leader face new challenges day to day. Put all my expierences and acknowlegment into action creating a postive enviroment to work.
There are ups and down but it is gratifying when you come out on top
No effort in team work, disorganized, no leadership.
Helping people on the production line and being able to move around.
Slow workers
Updated January 8, 2025
