Human Resources Managers vs Industrial Production Managers: $149K vs $126K Median Pay

Human Resources Managers vs Industrial Production Managers: what changes?

Consider Human Resources Managers if you want to plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization. Consider Industrial Production Managers if you would rather plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Human Resources Managers (5 years or more) and Industrial Production Managers (5 years or more).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Human Resources Managers and Industrial Production Managers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Human Resources Managers

National median pay (2025): $149,280
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 16,800

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Human Resources Managers brief

Industrial Production Managers

National median pay (2025): $126,060
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 17,000

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Industrial Production Managers brief

How the national numbers differ

Human Resources Managers has the edge on projected growth

Human Resources Managers is at 5.5% projected growth, compared with 2.6% projected growth for Industrial Production Managers.

Human Resources Managers has the edge on median pay

Human Resources Managers is at $149,280, compared with $126,060 for Industrial Production Managers.

Industrial Production Managers has the edge on annual openings

Industrial Production Managers is at 17,000 annual openings, compared with 16,800 annual openings for Human Resources Managers.

73.5/ 100

Human Resources Managers

65.5/ 100

Industrial Production Managers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Human Resources Managers vs Industrial Production Managers

Dimension	Human Resources Managers	Industrial Production Managers
Median pay (2025)	$149,280	$126,060
Pay percentile	95.3 percentile	91 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.5%	2.6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	16,800	17,000
2025 employment	224,900	252,100
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 4	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	Prior related experience: 5 years or more.	Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Human Resources Managers brief Read Industrial Production Managers brief

Human Resources Managers vs Industrial Production Managers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Human Resources Managers

Industrial Production Managers

How the national numbers differ

Human Resources Managers has the edge on projected growth

Human Resources Managers has the edge on median pay

Industrial Production Managers has the edge on annual openings

Human Resources Managers vs Industrial Production Managers

Try another comparison

Human Resources Managers vs Purchasing Managers

Human Resources Managers vs Compensation and Benefits Managers

Industrial Production Managers vs General and Operations Managers

Industrial Production Managers vs Compensation and Benefits Managers