How long does it take to become a Plant Manager?

It takes 11 years of professional experience to become a plant manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific plant manager skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 14 to 16 years years to become a plant manager.

How much do plant managers make a year?

Plant managers make, on average, $99,000 a year. There is, however, considerable range in how much a plant manager can make - starting from as little as $68,000 a year to as much as $139,000 a year. Factors such as the location, industry, and plant type impact where a plant manager will fall along that pay scale.

What is a plant manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted Expert

Nina Woodard

A plant manager oversees the daily operations of a manufacturing facility. They ensure that production runs smoothly, efficiently, and safely. Plant managers typically create and implement strategies for improving productivity, reducing costs, and increasing profitability. They also manage a team of production workers, supervisors, and maintenance staff. Plant managers must have strong leadership and communication skills and a solid understanding of manufacturing. Overall, they aim to meet production targets while maintaining high quality standards.

What general advice would you give to a Plant Manager?

Nina Woodard

Senior Career Development Specialist, Belmont University

Any job search strategy comes down to a combination of education, experience and relationships. Many students and graduates have mistakenly believed that that gaining experience or networking isn't an option during this season, but that's simply not the case. We encourage our job seekers to build their strategy and then identify ways to translate certain elements into the virtual realm. Most companies are now offering remote internships, which allows students to explore options without physical limitations. We've also found industry professionals to be extremely accessible and willing to connect with students/recent grads for a quick Zoom chat or phone call. Anyone working in entertainment is there because someone helped them along the way. Most people are genuinely eager to repay that favor by investing in others just beginning the professional journey.

ScorePlant ManagerUS Average

Salary

8.0

Avg. Salary $113,843

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.6

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.44%

Black or African American 6.27%

Hispanic or Latino 15.48%

Unknown 4.35%

White 67.00%

Gender

female 6.28%

male 93.72%

Age - 44

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 - 44

Stress Level

9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.2

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

3.6

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Plant Manager?

Pros

High salary and benefits
Opportunities for career advancement
Exposure to diverse aspects of business operations
Access to training and development programs
Contributing to the growth of the company

Cons

Long hours and high workload
Constant pressure to meet production targets
Handling emergencies and unexpected issues
Working in a high-stress environment
Facing criticism or blame for production failures

Key steps to become a plant manager

Explore plant manager education requirements

Most common plant manager degrees

Bachelor's

63.0 %

Associate

14.2 %

Master's

10.9 %

Start to develop specific plant manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Continuous Improvement	8.12%
Customer Service	6.71%
Safety Program	6.39%
Plant Operations	5.64%
Lean Manufacturing	5.51%

Complete relevant plant manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 a plant manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real plant manager resumes.

Gain additional plant manager certifications

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 plant manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

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

More About Certifications

Research plant manager duties and responsibilities

Manage 65 plant production and five plant supervisors in bilingual union manufacturing HVAC plant.
Manage compliance and training for the facility HACCP plan and are awarded PICQS plus status on annual audit.
Lead skilled trades in the repair and maintenance of robotics, PLC, hydraulic and electrical switchgear applications.
Lead OEE & SMED initiatives to improve machine utilization, up-time, throughput, change-over time, & yield.

Prepare your plant manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 a 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 Plant Manager Resume templates

Build a professional 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 Plant Manager resume.

Apply for plant manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a 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 plant managers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

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1 Star

Plant Manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019

Pros

People Busy Money Busy and variety in a job Solving problems

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Cons

Internal politics and human resources