Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
SOC code 43-5061 · O*NET-SOC 43-5061.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$59,650
a year
Hourly
$28.68
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$62,150
$29.88 per hour
Middle 50%
$47,820 – $75,000
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$40,080 – $86,000
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
390,160
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $40,080
- $19.27/hr
- 25th percentile
- $47,820
- $22.99/hr
- Median percentile
- $59,650
- $28.68/hr
- 75th percentile
- $75,000
- $36.06/hr
- 90th percentile
- $86,000
- $41.34/hr
What do production, planning, and expediting clerks 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments.
- 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.
- Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities.
- 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.
- Requisition and maintain inventories of materials or supplies necessary to meet production demands.
- Confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes.
- Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy, and conformance to standards and specifications.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 37% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)37%
- Some College Courses21%
- Less than a High School Diploma19%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree13%
Common questions
How much does a production, planning, and expediting clerks earn?
The national median is $59,650 a year. The full range runs from $40,080 at the 10th percentile to $86,000 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a production, planning, and expediting clerks without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.6/5
- Speaking3.6/5
- Active Listening3.5/5
- Critical Thinking3.4/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Administrative3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.3/5
- Mathematics2.8/5
- Transportation2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness.