How to Become a Industrial Production Manager in Illinois: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median industrial production manager salary in Illinois is $127,270 per year - in line with the national median of $126,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in business, operations management, or industrial technology.
How to Become a Industrial Production Manager in Illinois
1. Build production experience
Most plant managers rise from operator, machinist, or technician roles through shift leadership.
2. Earn a bachelor’s degree
Business administration, operations management, or industrial technology - online programs fit around shift work.
3. Move into supervision
Shift supervisor and production lead roles are the proving ground.
4. Add operations credentials
APICS CPIM/CSCP and lean manufacturing certifications strengthen the case.
5. Advance
Production manager, plant manager, then director of operations.
Requirements in Illinois
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in business, operations management, or industrial technology. There is no occupational license for industrial production managers in most states, including Illinois. APICS/CPIM certifications valued. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications before you enroll, as details change.
Industrial Production Manager Salary in Illinois
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois entry level (10th percentile) | $82,900 |
| Illinois 25th-75th percentile | $101,990 - $162,070 |
| Illinois median | $127,270 |
| Illinois top earners (90th percentile) | $205,310 |
| U.S. median | $126,060 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 11,570.
The Illinois Job Market: Industrial Production Manager
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Illinois | 11,570 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 1.90 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.20 |
| Mean annual wage in Illinois | $135,560 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.20, Illinois employs industrial production managers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $78,000 |
| 25th | $98,160 |
| 50th (median) | $126,060 |
| 75th | $161,880 |
| 90th | $205,520 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 241,900 |
| 2034 projected | 246,500 |
| Percent change | +1.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a industrial production manager make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for industrial production managers in Illinois is $127,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), in line with the national median of $126,060.
How to become a industrial production manager in Illinois?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in business, operations management, or industrial technology. There is no occupational license for industrial production managers in most states, including Illinois. APICS/CPIM certifications valued. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications. See the steps on this page.
How many industrial production managers work in Illinois?
BLS counts about 11,570 industrial production managers employed in Illinois (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Industrial Production Manager in Nearby States
- Industrial Production Manager in Hawaii
- Industrial Production Manager in Idaho
- Industrial Production Manager in Indiana
- Industrial Production Manager in Iowa
Related
- How to Become a Industrial Production Manager (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Industrial Production Managers (SOC 11-3051), Illinois and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
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/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |