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Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $59,650 Median per year · $28.68/hr Most earn $40,080–$86,000

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Arrange for delivery, assembly, or distribution of supplies or parts to expedite flow of materials and meet production schedules.
  • Confer with establishment personnel, vendors, or customers to coordinate production or shipping activities and to resolve complaints or eliminate delays.
  • Calculate figures, such as required amounts of labor or materials, manufacturing costs, or wages, using pricing schedules, adding machines, calculators, or computers.
  • Compile and prepare documentation related to production sequences, transportation, personnel schedules, or purchase, maintenance, or repair orders.
  • Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy, and conformance to standards and specifications.
  • Revise production schedules when required due to design changes, labor or material shortages, backlogs, or other interruptions, collaborating with management, marketing, sales, production, or engineering.

Job outlook

United States
1% fewer jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 32,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Management of companies and enterprises5.4%
  • Warehousing and storage3.8%
  • Machinery manufacturing2.5%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals2.4%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools2.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

You can start this job with a high school diploma, though most people first spend a year or two in a related entry-level role to learn how production and shipping actually work. Going from high school to this career usually takes about 2 to 3 years, counting the time in an entry role.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build basic math, reading, computer, and business skills, which are the core of tracking schedules, inventory, and reports.

  2. Shipping and Receiving Clerk

    6 months to 1 year

    Log incoming and outgoing materials and learn how orders, inventory counts, and delivery dates connect to production.

  3. Production Planning Clerk

    1-2 years

    Review production and shipment schedules, check in with supervisors on progress, and write reports on inventory, costs, and problems.

Where it can lead

  1. Production Supervisor

    1-2 years of experience first

    You move from tracking work to leading the people who do it, so you need strong communication, scheduling, and problem-solving skills.

  2. Project Management Specialist

    2-4 years of experience first

    You take on planning whole projects from start to finish, which usually calls for a bachelor's degree and experience coordinating schedules and budgets.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and business or computer classesStrong math and spreadsheet skills make it easier to track schedules, inventory, and reports.
  • Join a DECA or FBLA-style business clubClubs at many schools teach organization, teamwork, and presenting information, all useful for coordinating work across departments.
  • Get a part-time job at a store or warehouseA starter job teaches you how goods move, how orders get tracked, and how to keep records accurately.
  • Volunteer to organize events or group projectsPlanning a schedule with many people and deadlines is practice for expediting work.

In college

  • Take courses in operations, supply chain, or businessClasses on production, inventory, or logistics give you the vocabulary and concepts this job uses every day.
  • Learn spreadsheet and database toolsSkills in Excel or similar software help you compile progress reports and track inventory levels.
  • Take a summer or part-time job in a plant, warehouse, or distribution centerSeeing a production schedule in action helps you understand how delays and shortages affect the whole operation.
  • Join a student organization in operations or businessWorking on team projects with deadlines builds the coordination and communication skills employers look for.
  • Ask for an internship in production planning or supply chainHands-on experience gives you a head start on your first clerk role and a useful reference.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a supervisor or coworker to show you how a production schedule is made and updated. Understanding that process is the core of this job.
  • Get comfortable with spreadsheets and basic data entry, since you will be tracking inventory, progress, and deadlines every day.
  • Look for part-time or summer work in a warehouse, factory, or shipping office. Even a short stint helps you get your first clerk job faster.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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