# Industrial Production Managers

US SOC code 11-3051. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/11-3051

Also called: Plant manager, Production manager, Manufacturing manager, Operations manager manufacturing, VP operations manufacturing.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **246,250** US industrial production managers, with median pay of **$126,060** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [a Census count](https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1943/demo/edwards-01.html) of **80,000** from 1900, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for industrial production managers: IIoT and cloud MES, 2010 to 2020.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=11-3051&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **34.8%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Industrial Production Managers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1880
- Latest US employment: 246,250 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $126,060 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [11]
- Outlook: +2.6% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [27]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 90010)
  - Employment, 2020: 70,875. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [7]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 90010 Manufacturing managers, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$89,000. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [15]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 90010 Manufacturing managers, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 28 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | 80,000 | n/a | Decennial Census 1943 [1] |
| 1930 | 130,000 | n/a | Decennial Census 1943 [1] |
| 1960 | 190,000 | $8,500 (estimate) | Decennial Census 1960 (employment) [2]; Est., University of Missouri Libraries (pay) [8] |
| 1980 | n/a | $35,000 (estimate) | Est., University of Missouri Libraries [9] |
| 2000 | 205,370 | $61,660 | BLS OEWS 2000 [3] |
| 2003 | 166,350 | $70,510 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 155,980 | $73,000 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 153,950 | $75,580 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 153,410 | $77,670 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 152,870 | $80,560 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 154,030 | $83,290 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 147,250 | $85,080 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 143,310 | $87,160 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 151,850 | $88,190 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 160,550 | $89,190 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 165,340 | $90,790 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 167,200 | $92,470 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 169,390 | $93,940 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 168,400 | $97,140 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 171,520 | $100,580 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 181,310 | $103,380 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 185,790 | $105,480 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 179,570 | $108,790 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 192,270 | $103,150 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 211,710 | $107,560 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 222,890 | $116,970 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 234,380 | $121,440 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 246,250 | $126,060 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (96)

### Employment series

1. [Census Bureau / Alba Edwards (1943) -- Comparative Occupation Statistics for the United States, 1870 to 1940 (manufacturing managers and superintendents)](https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1943/demo/edwards-01.html), US Bureau of the Census
2. [IPUMS USA -- Occupation and Industry Codes and Documentation (1960 Census occupational classification)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
3. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

8. [University of Missouri Libraries -- "Prices and Wages by Decade: 1960-1969" (BLS occupational wage surveys, manufacturing management compensation)](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1960-1969), University of Missouri Libraries / BLS historical sources
9. [University of Missouri Libraries -- "Prices and Wages by Decade: 1980-1989" (BLS occupational wage surveys, manufacturing management)](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1980-1989), University of Missouri Libraries / BLS historical sources
10. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
11. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
12. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
13. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
14. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
15. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

16. [Wikipedia -- Scientific management (Frederick Taylor, history and development)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_management), Wikipedia
17. [Stevens Institute of Technology -- "Frederick Winslow Taylor's Scientific Management Principles Birthed Modern-Day Industrial Engineering"](https://www.stevens.edu/news/frederick-winslow-taylor-scientific-management), Stevens Institute of Technology
18. [Strategos Inc. -- "A Brief History of Lean Manufacturing" (Gantt chart and production scheduling history)](https://strategosinc.com/RESOURCES/04-Lean_History/Lean_History.htm), Strategos Inc.
19. [Britannica Money -- "History of the organization of work: Organization of work in the industrial age"](https://www.britannica.com/money/history-of-the-organization-of-work/Organization-of-work-in-the-industrial-age), Britannica Money
20. [US Department of Labor -- "Chapter 3: Labor in the Industrial Era" (postwar manufacturing management evolution)](https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol/history/chapter3), US Department of Labor
21. [Wikipedia -- Manufacturing resource planning (MRP-II history and adoption)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_resource_planning), Wikipedia
22. [Wikipedia -- Lean manufacturing (TPS, kanban, kaizen, and Six Sigma adoption in North American manufacturing)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_manufacturing), Wikipedia
23. [MachineMetrics -- IIoT Production Analytics Platform (platform history and capability overview)](https://www.machinemetrics.com/platform), MachineMetrics
24. [Sight Machine -- AI-Powered Manufacturing Analytics Platform (platform overview)](https://www.sightmachine.com/), Sight Machine
25. [Siemens Industrial Copilot for Manufacturing -- product overview (2025)](https://www.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/topic-areas/industrial-ai/industrial-copilot.html), Siemens
26. [Augury AI -- Machine Health Predictive Maintenance Platform (2025)](https://www.augury.com/machine-health/), Augury

### Forecasts and exposure studies

27. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 11-3051 Industrial production managers (2025: 252.1 thousand; 2035: 258.6 thousand; +2.6%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=11-3051&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
28. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 11-3051.00, human-rated β 0.348)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

29. [Stevens Institute of Technology -- "Frederick Winslow Taylor's Scientific Management Principles Birthed Modern-Day Industrial Engineering"](https://www.stevens.edu/news/frederick-winslow-taylor-scientific-management), Stevens Institute of Technology
30. [Wikipedia -- Willow Run (Ford bomber plant, WWII production management)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Run), Wikipedia
31. [FRED / BLS -- "All Employees, Manufacturing" (MANEMP series, peak 1979)](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MANEMP), Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis / BLS
32. [Wikipedia -- "The Machine That Changed the World" (Womack, Jones, Roos 1990)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Machine_That_Changed_the_World_%28book%29), Wikipedia
33. [Wikipedia -- CHIPS and Science Act (2022)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHIPS_and_Science_Act), Wikipedia
34. [Siemens Industrial Copilot for Manufacturing -- product overview and general availability announcement (2024)](https://www.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/topic-areas/industrial-ai/industrial-copilot.html), Siemens

### Predecessors & successors

35. [Wikipedia -- Scientific management (Taylor's foreman-to-manager transformation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_management), Wikipedia
36. [O\*NET 11-3051.00 -- career pathway and related occupation data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-3051.00), O\*NET / BLS
37. [BLS OOH -- Industrial Production Managers (career pathways section)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/industrial-production-managers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Industrial Production Managers (11-3051.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-3051.00), accessed 2026-05-23
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Industrial Production Managers (2024–2034)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/industrial-production-managers.htm), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-23
- [McKinsey Operations Practice — How Manufacturing Lighthouses Are Capturing the Full Value of AI (2025)](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/how-manufacturings-lighthouses-are-capturing-the-full-value-of-ai), accessed 2026-05-23
- [McKinsey Operations Practice — Agentic and Gen AI in Operations (2025)](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/agentic-and-gen-ai-in-operations), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Siemens Industrial Copilot for Manufacturing — product overview (2025)](https://www.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/topic-areas/industrial-ai/industrial-copilot.html), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Augury AI — Machine Health Predictive Maintenance Platform (2025)](https://www.augury.com/machine-health/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [MachineMetrics — IIoT Production Analytics Platform (2025)](https://www.machinemetrics.com/platform), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Tulip Interfaces — AI-Powered Manufacturing Operations Platform (2025)](https://tulip.co/platform/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Plex (Rockwell Automation): Smart Manufacturing Platform, cloud MES, ERP and QMS with production tracking and analytics](https://plex.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/smart-manufacturing-platform.html), accessed 2026-10-07
- [Honeywell Forge Performance+ for Manufacturing — product overview (2025)](https://www.honeywell.com/us/en/solutions/honeywell-forge), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Rockwell Automation: FactoryTalk Analytics product page, an industrial analytics platform whose GuardianAI module provides condition-based monitoring and alerts maintenance teams to asset degradation](https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/software/factorytalk/innovationsuite/analytics.html), accessed 2026-10-07
- [Sight Machine — AI-Powered Manufacturing Analytics (2025)](https://www.sightmachine.com/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [IndustryWeek — Edge AI in Predictive Maintenance: Workflows, Challenges and Outcomes (2025)](https://www.industryweek.com/technology-and-iiot/digital-tools/article/55368208/edge-ai-in-predictive-maintenance-a-look-at-workflows-challenges-and-outcomes), accessed 2026-05-23
- [The Manufacturing Institute — State of the Manufacturing Workforce 2025](https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/the-state-of-the-manufacturing-workforce-in-2025-20621/), accessed 2026-05-23
- [NAM and Manufacturing Institute — AI Will Strengthen the Manufacturing Workforce (2025)](https://nam.org/nam-and-mi-ai-will-strengthen-the-manufacturing-workforce-34550/), accessed 2026-05-23

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.