What Does it Take to Be a Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk?

Example of Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk Job 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.

List of Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk Job Duties

• Record production data, including volume produced, consumption of raw materials, or quality control measures.
• Establish and prepare product construction directions and locations and information on required tools, materials, equipment, numbers of workers needed, and cost projections.
• Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments.
• Confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes.
• Plan production commitments or timetables for business units, specific programs, or jobs, using sales forecasts.
• Provide documentation and information to account for delays, difficulties, or changes to cost estimates.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk?

When polled, Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Related Job Titles

• Materials Clerk
• Order Expediter
• Order Schedule Clerk
• Weave Defect Charting Clerk
• Schedule Maker

What Kind of Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 329,400 jobs for Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 18,000 new jobs for Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 35,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk are Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Maine, or New Hampshire. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk

The average yearly salary of a Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk ranges between $29,610 and $75,110.

Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks who work in Wyoming, District of Columbia, or New Mexico, make the highest salaries.

How much do Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks make in each U.S. state?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$45,550
Alaska	$55,830
Arizona	$49,260
Arkansas	$48,740
California	$52,480
Colorado	$53,410
Connecticut	$56,370
Delaware	$52,980
District of Columbia	$60,830
Florida	$44,760
Georgia	$49,230
Hawaii	$52,390
Idaho	$45,690
Illinois	$49,270
Indiana	$50,320
Iowa	$48,380
Kansas	$51,340
Kentucky	$46,710
Louisiana	$53,960
Maine	$54,170
Maryland	$50,260
Massachusetts	$55,830
Michigan	$49,870
Minnesota	$50,760
Mississippi	$44,240
Missouri	$48,370
Montana	$52,910
Nebraska	$45,030
Nevada	$45,570
New Hampshire	$53,880
New Jersey	$50,860
New Mexico	$58,040
New York	$50,850
North Carolina	$46,240
North Dakota	$49,610
Ohio	$49,990
Oklahoma	$50,560
Oregon	$50,920
Pennsylvania	$47,850
Rhode Island	$54,370
South Carolina	$46,270
South Dakota	$41,830
Tennessee	$46,750
Texas	$49,310
Utah	$47,490
Vermont	$49,650
Virginia	$52,440
Washington	$51,000
West Virginia	$48,360
Wisconsin	$47,430
Wyoming	$60,020

Tools & Technologies Used by Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Access
• Data entry software
• SAP
• Microsoft Project
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
• Structured query language SQL
• Microsoft Dynamics
• IBM Notes
• Google Docs
• FileMaker Pro
• Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
• Intuit QuickBooks
• Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
• Oracle PeopleSoft

How to Become a Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk

Individuals working as a Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk?

Where do Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Similar Careers

Are you already one of the many Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Farm Labor Contractors

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Jace Armstrong via public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.