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Salary comparison

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers out-earn Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic by $16K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic land at $58,000 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers at $74,450. The education gap is real: patternmakers, metal and plastic programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic is Ohio ($97,690); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$58,000
$74,450
Hourly rate
$27.89/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$42,460
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$82,590
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
1,470
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
-24.4%
1.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Ohio
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic median pay.

State
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Ohio
$97,690
$72,160
Minnesota
$74,900
$78,550
Massachusetts
$65,210
$79,920
Iowa
$63,420
$74,750
Alabama
$62,290
$73,060
Washington
$59,800
$79,310
Indiana
$54,740
$73,950
Pennsylvania
$54,150
$74,990
Michigan
$53,780
$72,170
Wisconsin
$52,150
$74,840
Texas
$49,390
$70,140
North Carolina
$47,050
$69,640

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn more nationally. The median is $58,000 for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, a difference of $16K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 1.2% projected growth, compared to -24.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic get paid the most?

Ohio is the top-paying state for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic at $97,690/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Ohio, Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic earn $97,690 vs. $72,160 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a patternmakers, metal and plasticGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →