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Job outlook for plant managers in the United States
Plant manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected plant manager job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 189,200 new jobs for plant managers are projected over the next decade.
Plant manager salaries have increased 4% for plant managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 81,325 plant managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 275,962 active plant manager job openings in the US.
The average plant manager salary is $113,843.
Are plant manager jobs in demand?
Plant Manager job and salary trends over time
Plant Manager jobs over time
Plant Manager job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81,325 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 73,096 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 76,009 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 74,156 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 71,853 | 0.02% |
Average plant manager salary over time
Plant Manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $113,843 | $54.73 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $110,691 | $53.22 | --0.1% |
| 2023 | $110,855 | $53.30 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $110,284 | $53.02 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $109,076 | $52.44 | +1.6% |
Plant Manager jobs by state
Most common states for plant managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 386 | 56% |
| 2 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 2,111 | 32% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,510 | 30% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,994 | 29% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,633 | 29% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 283 | 29% |
| 7 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,688 | 28% |
| 8 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,379 | 28% |
| 9 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 812 | 28% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,816 | 27% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,653 | 27% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 846 | 27% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 3,236 | 25% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,574 | 25% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,426 | 25% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,396 | 25% |
| 17 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 1,116 | 25% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 778 | 25% |
| 19 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 737 | 25% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 338 | 25% |
Most common cities for plant managers
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Brunswick | 5 | 9% | $140,266 |
| 2 | Casa Grande | 4 | 7% | $82,293 |
| 3 | Bowling Green | 3 | 5% | $88,939 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City | 5 | 3% | $88,475 |
| 5 | Buffalo | 5 | 2% | $114,127 |
| 6 | Baltimore | 5 | 1% | $123,109 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $97,679 |
| 8 | Milwaukee | 4 | 1% | $117,602 |
| 9 | Aurora | 3 | 1% | $116,319 |
| 10 | Montgomery | 3 | 1% | $110,453 |
| 11 | Houston | 5 | 0% | $107,267 |
| 12 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $124,321 |
| 13 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $117,007 |
| 14 | Dallas | 4 | 0% | $109,900 |
| 15 | Charlotte | 3 | 0% | $107,930 |
Plant Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of plant manager experts
Highline College
Indiana University Kokomo
University of Iowa
SUNY Plattsburgh
Texas Tech University
Pennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny
University of West Georgia
Tiffin University
Cypress College, School of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management
Brandeis University
Missouri State University
Lynn University
University of Central Florida
Pepperdine University, Seaver College
Sam Houston State University
University of California - Davis
The City College of New York
Belmont University
Sonoma State University
What Plant Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kim Roberts: Business professionals lead organizations by focused efforts that revolve around products/services, processes, and people. Business professionals work to ensure the firm's products and/or services meet customer expectations, with an eye toward an ever-changing market. They manage processes that produce or support the firm's products. This requires the ability to analyze data to make informed decisions, to drive continuous improvement, and to solve problems through critical thinking. Successful business professionals must also create climates that promote teamwork and foster collaboration.
Justin Taillon
Professor & Department HeadHighline College
Hospitality Administration/Management
What Plant Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Justin Taillon: There are a lot of interesting trends. Yet, one trend is so much more important than everything else that I want to focus on it: The ability to turn data into information. As the famous quote goes, "You can't manage what you don't measure." We have moved to a data-based decision-making model for nearly everything. Those who comprehend statistics, data analysis processes, and how to make wise decisions based on an in-depth comprehension of data will be the top people in the future. The specific software someone needs to know is based on the company and area of hospitality they enter. Thus, beyond my recommendation that everyone learn advanced levels of Excel, make sure you speak to successful professionals in your career areas so you are up to date on data analysis processes and software.
Mark Meng Ph.D.
Mark Z. Meng, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism ManagementIndiana University Kokomo
Business/Commerce
What general advice would you give to a Plant Manager?
Mark Meng Ph.D.: Analytical skill comes at the top. The hospitality world has becoming increasingly
dependent on data. Crisis and emergency management demonstrated their importance
in the past three years across all areas of the hospitality industry.
What skills stand out on Plant Manager resumes?
Casey DeRoo Ph.D.: Rather than a concrete skill, previous experience in managing teams to accomplish engineering-related tasks is sure to make you a standout. Showcasing familiarity with work management software (e.g., Jira) or budget/total effort tracking systems is important. Find out what software the company you're seeking employment with uses, and be sure to highlight this if you're familiar with it.
Dr. Laurent Josien
Associate Professor, Chair of the Marketing and Entrepreneurship DepartmentSUNY Plattsburgh
Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department
What skills stand out on Plant Manager resumes?
Dr. Laurent Josien: Excel is an important skill to have. Having a certification is a big plus to have on your resume. Not a skill, but having some internship experience is also a high-value item on your resume.
What soft skills should all Plant Managers possess?
Dr. Laurent Josien: The ability to interact with people is the most important skill a manager needs to have.
What skills will help Plant Managers earn the most?
Dr. Laurent Josien: Software and/or coding skill is very valuable; Bloomberg Terminal Certification and the ability to use/understand software like Tableau or DOMO for business visualization/analytics will put you ahead of many applicants and get you higher-paid positions.
Charlie Adams Ph.D.
Associate Professor, RHIM Undergraduate AdvisorTexas Tech University
Restaurant, Hotel, & Institutional Management Program
What skills stand out on Plant Manager resumes?
Charlie Adams Ph.D.: Specific, measurable skills such as certification for specific activities like bartending or Serve Safe. Demonstrate capabilities through past work experience such as waiting tables, hosting, front desk, housekeeping, etc., that show effort and familiarity with the environment. Also, demonstration of marketing, sales, and/or finance are extremely beneficial. These assessable skills should be found on the resume called out in the job descriptions. Additionally, a person's work experience should reflect their career aspirations and goals. The best measure of future performance is past experience!
Bernie Cerasaro
Assistant Teaching ProfessorPennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny
Business Department
What skills stand out on Plant Manager resumes?
Bernie Cerasaro: Skills employers would be looking for would be functional skills and interpersonal skills. Functional skills should stand out on a resume and be aligned to the business job in question. For example, if focused on marketing positions, marketing skills such as data analytics, market research, consumer behavior, global marketing, and professional selling skills would be areas for which employers would be looking. If the job market is looking for someone in accounting, then functional skills that would stand out would be intermediate financial accounting skills and courses on taxation and auditing. For those seeking positions in project management or supply chain management, skills that would stand out would encompass subject matter such as project management, portfolio management, operations planning and control, purchasing and materials management, and knowledge of ERP type systems and other business processes.
Skill sets can be enhanced via various types of certification. For example, those interested in accounting might pursue a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license, which requires 150 credits. As most universities require 120 credits for a bachelor's degree in business, a CPA would require just an additional 30 credits, which students can start accumulating while still at college. Project management certification is also an opportunity to enhance the aforementioned skills and would certainly stand out on an applicant's resume. The Project Management Institute (PMI) promotes PMP certification, which validates that you are highly skilled in soft skills to lead project teams and have the required technical aspects of managing projects. Some universities are working with the PMI to have PMI-approved courses. Approved courses are used toward the PMP training hours required to sit for the exam. For example, Penn State University has received approval for two such courses, Portfolio Management and Organizations and Project Planning and Resource Management.
Due to the high rate of interaction with the global marketplace and the complexity of international business, managers are looking more closely at applicants who have some familiarity with global markets and international culture, such as applicants who may have study abroad experience, traveled internationally, speak a foreign language or have lived or worked in another country.
What soft skills should all Plant Managers possess?
Bernie Cerasaro: Soft skills or conceptual skills are critical in today's business world. Lack of such interpersonal skills is a major reason highly qualified professionals are not promoted (Lee, n.d.)
As a former recruiter for Xerox Corporation, I looked for problem-solving, decision-making, and time management skills. Problem-solving supports creativity allowing workers to evaluate and prioritize options to determine the best solution. Much time and money can be wasted in selecting the wrong option.
Proper decision-making allows companies to quickly react to internal problems, customer concerns, changing market trends, and the use of ever-advancing technology in the workplace. The increased use of empowerment in the workplace, which has been enhanced due to the pandemic, has allowed employees to make more decisions, which requires strong decision-making capability. In addition, the pandemic has caused many businesses to use alternate work structures such as working from home, leading to less direct supervision. Consequently, employers are looking for people who are self-motivated, self-directed, and who employ good time management skills.
Teamwork is one of the most commonly required skills in the work environment. The ability to work together is essential. Due to downsizing, there are fewer managers within companies. Since few individuals possess all the knowledge and skills needed, teamwork has become essential. Getting along and working together to achieve objectives and meet deliverables is critical to project completion. Managers are also looking to teams to provide a greater range of ideas and innovation. Teams can also motivate each other for the timely completion of tasks.
Conflict management enhances decision-making abilities and increases creativity which produces innovative solutions for ongoing problems. The ability to handle conflict productively helps solve problems resulting in demoralization, absenteeism, and turnover. Productive resolution of such problems leads to increased trust and increased employee involvement.
For those aspiring to management positions, leadership is key. Leaders need to promote the company's mission and vision among their subordinates. They need to influence employees to achieve goals by motivating them, resulting in a higher level of performance. This type of leadership is paramount in today's marketplace for company advancement, expansion, and survival.
Other important soft skills include verbal and written communication, persuasive skills, negotiation, and listening skills. Communication is vital to company performance. The ability of company personnel to communicate clearly, succinctly, and accurately will increase productivity. Good communication requires being observant of both verbal and nonverbal signals.
Persuasion and negotiation, two other soft skills, require good listening skills. In today's work environment, employees are no longer subject to a hierarchical structure, a structure of non-questioning of their manager's requests. This requires managers to be more persuasive. Negotiation is practiced by all of us on a day-to-day basis, and more so in business. Strong negotiation skills are essential internally (managers and employees) and externally (sales negotiations, contract negotiations, etc.).
We often forget the skill of listening, as most of us prefer to talk rather than listen. However, it is essential to understand what your company and customers want. This is not just "hearing" but actually practicing listening skills by asking questions, confirming content heard, and providing feedback. Listening requires effort; it requires concentration and attention to what is being said.
Thomas Gainey Ph.D.
Chair and ProfessorUniversity of West Georgia
Department of Management in the Richards College of Business
What hard/technical skills are most important for Plant Managers?
Thomas Gainey Ph.D.: With the recent pandemic and the growing reliance on technology to perform many jobs, individuals have been forced to quickly develop or strengthen their technical skills. And these technical skills are in high demand by employers. Individuals with knowledge and experience with enterprise systems, Microsoft Office applications, and popular programming languages will have a significant advantage.
Dr. Bonnie Tiell
Professor of Sport ManagementTiffin University
School of Business
What skills stand out on Plant Manager resumes?
Dr. Bonnie Tiell: Experience and proven record of accomplishments, achievements, and added value to an organization (e.g., demonstration of increasing market shares, sales quotas, membership acquisition, etc.).
What hard/technical skills are most important for Plant Managers?
Dr. Bonnie Tiell: Direct occupational knowledge: Negotiating and understanding contracts | agreements, staff management, informational technology, budget, and financial reporting.
What skills will help Plant Managers earn the most?
Dr. Bonnie Tiell: Skills helping managers earn the most are those that impact the bottom line - it depends on the organization's needs, but those that can produce or increase revenue will earn more --- sales!
Amanda Gargano
ProfessorCypress College, School of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management
Hotel, Restaurant & Culinary Arts
What skills will help Plant Managers earn the most?
Amanda Gargano: A combination of soft skills, interpersonal skills, and technical skills is ideal. Oftentimes, hiring managers in hospitality are very willing to onboard a new employee with strong, soft skills, knowing that the technical skills can be taught through on-the-job training and mentoring. Continuing education, participating in networking opportunities, and industry-focused workshops and conferences are all good ways to continue to learn and add to your resume.
Hagit Weihs Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Accounting in the Brandeis International Business School and the Undergraduate Advising Head to the Business ProgramBrandeis University
International Business School
What hard/technical skills are most important for Plant Managers?
Hagit Weihs Ph.D.: Employers appreciate accounting, finance, and marketing literacy. These include a deep understanding of the different business disciplines (good financial statement analysis skills, understanding how budgets are created and followed, understanding financial markets, marketing, etc.). Application of these skills using data analytics tools are very important - these include data manipulation and presentation for the purpose of decision making using various software tools.
What technical skills for a Plant Manager stand out to employers?
Dr. Liza Cobos: Employers are looking for transferable skills, skills like critical thinking and technical skills (i.e. excel) are in demand. Having the technical skills to analyze data and critical thinking skills to generate and provide solutions. The industry is always looking for ways to improve sales and pricing strategies to help the bottom line. Being able to demonstrate these skills will with career advancement.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Plant Managers?
Amanda Main Ph.D.: I believe there will be an enduring impact of the pandemic on graduates, and I believe it will be composed of both disadvantages and advantages. Obviously, we have seen a decline in employment across almost all sectors, which has reduced opportunities for post-graduation employment. The safety restrictions are also making it difficult for many students to find internships while in the final years of study, and that is a real disadvantage because it is depriving them of invaluable real-world experience that will help them succeed in the workplace, and that employers are looking for.
Unfortunately, the pandemic is also going to have deleterious effects for many female graduates, as job sectors that have heavy female representation such as hospitality, retail, and education have been disproportionately impacted, and we may see the wage gap returning to be more of an issue than we have seen in recent years. On the other hand, graduates will be entering the job market with coping skills that are going to be incredibly valuable in the coming times.
Students have had to adapt, integrate new technologies, and learn new ways of doing things in response to this event, and college graduates have the advantage of being trained in this, as colleges and universities have been very intentional about not throwing their students into the deep end of the pool without support and guidance. This should make them an asset to the workforce as industries begin to rebuild and continue to look forward with an innovative mindset.
What soft skills should all Plant Managers possess?
Amanda Main Ph.D.: This is a great question because there has actually been an increasing call for colleges and universities to enhance their curriculums because organizations are finding recent graduates lacking in soft skills that are necessary for success. In addition to the skills I mentioned above, The National Association for Colleges and Employers released a list of critical competencies to ensure career readiness, which includes skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, oral and written communication, teamwork and collaboration, leadership, professionalism and work ethic, career management, and global/intercultural fluency.
This should be a bare minimum that graduates are striving for. I would also suggest having a strong focus on increasing emotional intelligence (EQ), which will really help at several career stages including promoting oneself in a job search, negotiating employment offers, advancing and maturing through the arc of one's career, and even exiting from the workforce at retirement.
There are a lot of ways to obtain these skills, and it is important to really give them attention and practice when opportunities arise in the classroom, such as writing papers and giving presentations, to learning from podcasts and reading books and attending open webinars by experts and influencers. These skills are very attainable, but I have found that few graduates take the opportunities to develop them, but by putting forth that extra effort, a graduate can really stand out.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Plant Manager job market given the pandemic?
Jessica Wickey-Byrd: In regards to the job market in the hospitality and tourism industry, the biggest trend we are seeing is the ability to pivot into other industries while ours is rebuilding. Hospitality students have excellent transferable skills that translate across multiple industries. They have guest service skills, marketing skills, financial skills, and human resource skills that are applicable in retail, real estate, financial services, healthcare, senior living, marketing and more. Hospitality students are trained with servant leadership, and have the soft skills to be leaders across all careers.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Plant Managers?
Steven Bauer: The coronavirus has accelerated the transformation to a digital world, and this effect will continue after the pandemic is behind us. Graduates will need to be able to navigate a hybrid business environment, with in-person and virtual meetings, interactions and platforms. There will also be increased opportunities to be entrepreneurial and innovative in the digital area. In addition, graduates will have to become more skilled at navigating a global environment since greater digitization will draw countries closer to each other.
Carliss Miller Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ManagementSam Houston State University
Department of Management & Marketing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Plant Manager job market given the pandemic?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Flexible working arrangements were considered a perk or benefit, but given the pandemic more and more jobs will be designed with flexible work arrangements in mind. We will continue to see trends in the labor market with a push towards personal services (e.g. virtual assistants, professional organizers) and professional services. There will also continue to be a demand for knowledge work. More and more, employers are looking to hire applicants that can provide concrete evidence of being "Day 1" ready.
Employers will focus more on identifying prospects with certain "soft skills" which were a nice-to-have pre-pandemic, but are now critical for organizational survival. These skills include: critical thinking, agility, ability to adapt to change, resilience, virtual team effectiveness, crisis management, emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusive leadership. Additionally, data analysis and interpretation is a highly sought after skill even for jobs that historically did not require analytical ability.
What Plant Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Philipp Zerbe: There are several opportunities a student can consider. Improve your background knowledge by taking online classes, reading relevant literature, and attending online seminars that are hosted by universities and scientific societies and are often open to the public. Expand your skillset. For example, in biology and other STEM fields, expertise in programming is an increasingly desired skill. In addition, take advantage of management, entrepreneurship and/or leadership training available either at your university or through reputed online courses. These skills not only are valuable for anyone seeking a leadership role in their career, but also show a forward-looking and self-motivated attitude. Lastly, look for internships (in person or remote), for example, at your university, industry or non-profit organizations. These opportunities are an excellent opportunity to grow professionally and explore possible career avenues
What general advice would you give to a Plant Manager?
Philipp Zerbe: While most career sectors have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, job opportunities in botany, plant biology and biology in general have been affected comparatively less. Therefore, do not be discouraged; explore the many career possibilities in plant biology and find something that truly speaks to your personality and your career dreams and pursue opportunities in this direction. At the same time be flexible and open-minded toward new opportunities. Botany/Plant Biology is a diverse and international field with many different career possibilities. Be open to exploring different fields and to relocate nationally or internationally for internships or job opportunities.
What type of skills will young Plant Managers need?
Prabal Kumar De Ph.D.: I think the necessary skills remain the same. One modification that would stay is greater virtual engagement. Therefore, newly essential skills such as acing a virtual interview, making a mark during a Zoom meeting, or managing or being a valuable part of a remote working group would be useful long after the immediate threats from the COVID-19 crisis be gone.
Nina Woodard
Senior Career Development SpecialistBelmont University
Office of Career & Professional Development
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Plant Manager job market given the pandemic?
Nina Woodard: The pandemic hasn't impacted all areas of the entertainment industry in the same way. Anything related to live events and touring has been placed on an extended pause, which has been very difficult for graduates hoping to work in those fields. On an encouraging note, consumers will always find a way back to live experiences, so that segment of the industry will absolutely recover; the timing is just still a bit unknown. Other areas such as record or publishing companies have held steady. And, digital marketing and content creation companies are as busy, if not busier, than they've ever been as artists seek alternative ways to stay connected to their fans. Technology has intersected with entertainment in exciting, creative ways that will continue even as some of the more traditional avenues become available again. For many companies, ideas that started as pivots are now vibrant components of their long-term strategies.
The way we work may have also permanently changed. Companies have realized that remote working is a truly viable option for most businesses. While maintaining company culture, and the social nature of an entertainment-based organization, may still require some level of in-person interaction, it seems likely that many organizations may continue with remote/hybrid office models.
What Plant Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nina Woodard: For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.
What general advice would you give to a Plant Manager?
Nina Woodard: 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.
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.
Adjunct LecturerSonoma State University
School of Business & Economics
What type of skills will young Plant Managers need?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: I see the essential human skills gaining importance to build a new post-covid work life. These include creativity, leading and working in teams, writing, speaking, being self-aware, and lowering bias and networking; career branding as critical areas for graduates to focus on now.
What experience really stands out on Plant Manager resumes?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: Most important on resumes to only show accomplishments you are proud of and reflect measurable success and completion of past work. These accomplishments should be a snapshot of what we have done and can do in the future. The most important two lines of a resume are in the objectives, to list what the person is seeking. These two lines give the reader a quick view of what the person wants.
Now is a great time to start the new year to build a portable work portfolio to represent an alignment of what a person is excited about and enjoys in their work.