Quick answer: Industrial Production Managers in the Worcester area earn a median $138,430 per year, above the national median of $126,060, and the metro employs about 590 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Worcester metro | Massachusetts | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $138,430 | $148,050 | $126,060 |
| 10th percentile | $99,200 | $99,920 | $78,000 |
| 25th percentile | $122,690 | $125,390 | $98,160 |
| 75th percentile | $175,110 | $184,050 | $161,880 |
| 90th percentile | $215,490 | $227,080 | $205,520 |
| Employment | 590 | 4,470 | 246,250 |
| Location quotient | 1.07 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Worcester, MA metropolitan statistical area.
The Worcester median of $138,430 is above the national median of $126,060, and below the Massachusetts statewide median of $148,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.07 means industrial production managers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Production management demand follows the region’s manufacturing base directly, so it is concentrated in industrial states rather than spread with population.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $153,210 | 3,500 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Production management is not a licensed occupation. What employers screen on is demonstrated plant experience plus, increasingly, Lean and Six Sigma certification from private bodies. Safety regulation through OSHA governs the facility rather than the manager as an individual.
See the Massachusetts licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
The median annual wage for industrial production managers in the Worcester, MA metro area is $138,430, above the national median of $126,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Worcester, MA metro area employs about 590 industrial production managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Production management is not a licensed occupation. What employers screen on is demonstrated plant experience plus, increasingly, Lean and Six Sigma certification from private bodies. Safety regulation through OSHA governs the facility rather than the manager as an individual. Confirm current requirements with the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.
The Worcester metro median is $138,430 against a statewide median of $148,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
