Features

• Plant managers earned a mean annual wage of $95,660 as of May 2010, according to the BLS' Occupational Employment Statistics survey. Salaries ranged from $52,640 for the bottom 10 percent to $148,020 for the top 10 percent. The median annual wage for plant managers was $87,160. The BLS calculated mean annual wages by multiplying the mean hourly wage of $45.99 by 2,080, which is the average number of hours worked by a full-time employee.
  
  

Industries

• "Management of companies and enterprises" was the industry that reported the highest employment levels for plant managers, paying them a mean annual wage of $112,570. "Oil and gas extraction" was the highest-paying industry for plant managers, with a mean annual wage of $127,910. Product manufacturing industries, such as petroleum farm products, also reported high salaries for plant managers -- $127,290 and $122,510 respectively. As of May 2010, there were 143,310 plant managers employed in the U.S., according to the BLS.
  
  

Locations

• The states that reported the highest employment levels for plant managers were California, Texas, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Salaries in these states ranged from $89,470 in Pennsylvania to $116,630 in Texas. New Jersey was the highest-paying state for plant managers, with a mean annual wage of $118,500. Five of the 10 highest-paying metropolitan areas for plant managers were in Texas. Tyler, Texas, topped the list with a mean annual wage of $138,220.
  
  

Considerations

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for plant managers will decline by 8 percent through the year 2018, due to the increased use of automated processes in many plants. Prospective plant managers with a degree in a field such as engineering or business administration and related work experience will enjoy the best job opportunities, the BLS reports. Plant managers may be called upon to work overtime when production deadlines need to be met, resulting in an increased salary.