Production Manager Jobs in Illinois

Production Manager jobs in Illinois are in active demand, with consistent openings concentrated in food and beverage manufacturing, industrial equipment, plastics, and printing industries, at every level from entry-level supervisory roles through senior plant leadership. The strongest hiring markets are Chicago, Rockford, and the broader Chicagoland suburban corridor, where major manufacturers like Caterpillar, Kraft Heinz, and Motorola Solutions maintain large Illinois operations. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois postings include lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and high-volume consumer goods production. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles90
Top employerCaterpillar
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring49
Work type86% On-site
Top industryEnergy

Showing 5 of 90+ Production Manager jobs

Assistant Manager of Production and Quality
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Added 1d ago
Assistant Manager of Production and Quality
Warmies
East Dundee, Illinois
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
On-Site
High school diploma or GED

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Manager Production - Building KK, 3rd Shift
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Added 1d ago
Manager Production - Building KK, 3rd Shift
Caterpillar
East Peoria, Illinois
Business Operations
Customer Service
Customer Success
$89k - $134k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Logistics Production Manager
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Added 2d ago
Logistics Production Manager
Caterpillar
East Peoria, Illinois
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$89k - $134k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Production Manager - Landscape Maintenance
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Added 3d ago
Production Manager - Landscape Maintenance
Live Oak Talent Partners
Joliet, Illinois
Manufacturing Operations
Project Management
Quality Control
$68k - $75k/yr
On-Site
2-10

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Food Production Manager
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Added 5d ago
Food Production Manager
The Fresh Market
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Marketing
Sales
$22.08 - $27.6/hr
Associate's degree
10,000+

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See All 90 Production Manager Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Production Manager Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Manteno
7 jobs
Elgin
3 jobs
Joliet
3 jobs
Decatur
3 jobs
Schaumburg
3 jobs
Elk Grove Village
3 jobs
Marion
2 jobs
Belvidere
2 jobs

Production Manager Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Caterpillar6 open roles
Gotion5 open roles
EY4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Energy
  • Automotive
  • Manufacturing
  • Accounting & Auditing
  • Science & Research

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in production manager jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in manufacturing, industrial engineering, or a related field preferred by Illinois employers
  • Proven experience managing production lines or plant operations in a manufacturing environment
  • Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma
  • Ability to oversee scheduling, staffing, and output targets across multi-shift Illinois facilities
  • Experience with ERP systems and production tracking software used in Illinois manufacturing operations
  • Strong safety compliance knowledge aligned with OSHA standards applicable to Illinois production environments

Production Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a production manager in Illinois?

Most production managers in Illinois follow a path that starts with a bachelor's degree in manufacturing, engineering, operations, or business, combined with floor-level experience in a production or operations role. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for production managers, but employers across Chicagoland and downstate manufacturing hubs strongly favor candidates with Lean Six Sigma certification and demonstrated supervisory experience gained in Illinois's food processing, industrial, or consumer goods sectors.

Which companies hire production managers in Illinois?

Employers hiring production managers in Illinois right now include Caterpillar, Gotion, and EY, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of large food manufacturers, industrial equipment producers, and consumer goods companies means demand for production managers is spread across both the Chicago metro and downstate manufacturing corridors.

Which Illinois cities have the most production manager jobs?

Chicago, Manteno, and Elgin have the most production manager openings in Illinois. Chicago and its suburban ring drive the bulk of postings because of the region's dense concentration of food processing plants, packaging operations, and industrial manufacturers, while cities like Rockford anchor significant demand through their longstanding heavy manufacturing and aerospace supply chain industries.

Are there remote production manager jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. Production managers are fundamentally on-site roles tied to physical plant oversight, staffing, and equipment, so fully remote positions are uncommon. About 14% of production manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to cover planning, scheduling coordination, or multi-site oversight functions that can be handled off the floor.

How can I get hired as a production manager in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is securing a production supervisor or shift lead role at a large Illinois manufacturer such as those in the Chicago food processing corridor or Rockford's industrial sector, then building toward a manager title from within. Caterpillar, Kraft Heinz, and similarly scaled Illinois employers run structured associate and rotational operations programs that accept candidates from adjacent roles like quality technician, logistics coordinator, or production planner. Earning a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification gives candidates a measurable edge in Illinois listings even before they hold a manager title.

Where can I find and apply to production manager jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to production manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across manufacturing sectors and hiring regions. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly.

See All 90 Production Manager Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Production Manager Jobs