What Does a Production Planner Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a production planner do?

Production, planning and expediting clerks coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials according to production schedules. The median pay is $59,650 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Several months on the job, and employment is projected to grow -1.3% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$59,650
$28.68/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-1.3%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
32,600
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
BLS classification
Time to train
Several months on the job
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
392,100
Employment, 2025

What production planners do

Production planners keep factories fed and on schedule. They build production schedules, check material availability, release work orders, expedite late parts, track progress and update customers and managers on delivery dates.

A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical, though many have some college. BLS projects little change.

Typical duties

Build production schedules
Check material availability
Release work orders
Expedite late materials
Track job progress
Update delivery dates
Coordinate with purchasing

Work environment and schedule

Planners work in plant offices and on the floor.

Schedule: Full-time hours, sometimes longer during crunches.

A day in the life

7:00 AMReview overnight output.
8:00 AMUpdate the schedule.
9:30 AMChase a late shipment.
11:00 AMRelease work orders.

See a full day in the life of a production planner →

Production Planner salary

Half of production planners earned more than $59,650 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $40,080 for the lowest 10% to $86,000 for the top 10%.

$40,08010th$59,650Median$86,00090th

Full production planner pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a production planner

Finish high school
Work in a plant
Move into scheduling
Earn the CPIM
Advance

A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical; supply chain courses help.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a production planner →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Production scheduling
MRP and ERP systems
Inventory control
Expediting
Excel

People skills

Organization
Communication
Persistence
Calm under pressure

All production planner skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Every plant needs planning
No degree required
Problem-solving work
Path to supply chain

Cons

Constant schedule changes
Pressure from all sides
Late suppliers
Little growth

Certifications and licenses

APICS CPIM: Production and inventory management.
CSCP: Supply chain professional.
Excel certification: Helpful.
Lean training: Helpful.

Career path

Production Clerk: Entry.
Production Planner: Schedule.
Senior Planner: Lead planning.
Planning Manager: Lead.

Learn the job before day one

Our Production Planner training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as build a weekly production schedule and expedite a late part, safety and how to land your first job.

View Production Planner training Is this career right for me?

Procurement Clerk

Process purchase orders and keep track of supplies and orders.

$50,580
A few months on the job

Logistics Coordinator

Plan and track how products move from suppliers to customers, on time and on budget.

$82,320
1–4 years

Production Supervisor

Lead factory teams to hit safety, quality and production goals every shift.

$74,450
3–5 years of experience

Industrial Engineering Technician

Help engineers measure and improve how products are made.

$66,120
2-year degree

Compare: Production Planner vs. Procurement Clerk · Production Planner vs. Logistics Coordinator · Production Planner vs. Production Supervisor · Production Planner vs. Industrial Engineering Technician

Production Planner FAQ

Do production planners need a degree?

Not always; experience counts.

What is the CPIM?

A respected production planning credential.

Is the job growing?

BLS projects little change.

How much does a production planner make?

The median annual wage for production planners was $59,650 ($28.68 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,080 and the highest 10% earned more than $86,000.

How long does it take to become a production planner?

Most people need about Several months on the job of training. A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical; supply chain courses help.

Do you need a degree to be a production planner?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 43-5061 (Production, planning, and expediting clerks).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Production, planning, and expediting clerks (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Production Planner