How to hire a master scheduler

How to hire a master scheduler, step by step

Here's a step-by-step master scheduler hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a master scheduler job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new master scheduler
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a master scheduler do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a master scheduler, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect master scheduler also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of master schedulers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Master Scheduler	Description	Hourly rate
   Master Scheduler	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$28-48
   Inventory Control Coordinator	An inventory control coordinator is responsible for monitoring the adequacy of office inventory to ensure that the company has enough supplies to support the employees' needs for business operations. Inventory control coordinators manage supply chain systems, conduct inventory checks regularly, write inventory reports, create purchase requests, and file inventory documents on the database... Show more	$13-22
   Inventory Coordinator	An inventory coordinator specializes in overseeing the supply flow of materials in a warehouse or similar setting. It is their responsibility to manage and handle the inventory, ensuring that the quantity and quality of materials align with company standards... Show more	$13-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • MRP
   • Program Management
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Microsoft Project
   • ERP
   • Primavera
   • Logistics
   • Master Production Schedule
   • Customer Demand
   • Work Breakdown Structure
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • IMS
   • Strong Analytical

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Supervise NPI chip fulfillment process - manage wafer starts to meet internal qualification and board level build plan.
   • Facilitate production release of drawings, bills of materials, and QC specs.
   • Coordinate the flow of machine and electronic parts through the production process including QC.
   • Experience with the engineering change order (ECO) process including documentation and documentation control.
   • Create BOM's, standardize part numbers, and standardize part descriptions in the MRP software.
   • Develop, coordinate, and maintain CPM and EVM cost loaded schedules for various BRPH customers.

   More master scheduler duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your master scheduler job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A master scheduler can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, master schedulers' average salary in wyoming is 48% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level master schedulers 42% less than senior-level master schedulers.
   • Certifications. A master scheduler with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a master scheduler's salary.

   Average master scheduler salary

   $77,733yearly

   $37.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level master scheduler salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average master scheduler salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$102,428	$49
   2	Massachusetts	$97,136	$47
   3	Oregon	$90,377	$43
   4	Connecticut	$86,683	$42
   5	Texas	$85,520	$41
   6	Virginia	$85,108	$41
   7	Colorado	$83,073	$40
   8	Ohio	$80,007	$38
   9	Washington	$79,878	$38
   10	Michigan	$74,542	$36
   11	Illinois	$73,059	$35
   12	Pennsylvania	$72,456	$35
   13	North Carolina	$70,774	$34
   14	Minnesota	$69,233	$33
   15	Georgia	$68,705	$33
   16	South Carolina	$68,364	$33
   17	Oklahoma	$64,667	$31
   18	Alabama	$62,963	$30
   19	District of Columbia	$59,120	$28

   Average master scheduler salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	NVIDIA	$110,849	$53.29	2
   2	Microsoft	$108,174	$52.01	8
   3	TechnipFMC	$96,750	$46.51	1
   4	KLA	$95,926	$46.12	2
   5	Amazon	$94,325	$45.35	20
   6	Wabtec Corporation	$93,224	$44.82	1
   7	ICU Medical	$92,586	$44.51
   8	REV Group	$92,308	$44.38	1
   9	Eli Lilly and Company	$90,207	$43.37	2
   10	PBF Energy	$89,093	$42.83	2
   11	Baker Hughes	$88,898	$42.74	2
   12	The Chemours Company	$88,298	$42.45
   13	Carestream	$88,169	$42.39
   14	Tesla	$87,259	$41.95	3
   15	Dell	$86,299	$41.49
   16	Solectron Corp	$84,562	$40.65	6
   17	Weatherford International	$82,827	$39.82
   18	E Ink	$82,603	$39.71
   19	Planned Systems International	$82,512	$39.67	2
   20	Unisys	$82,186	$39.51

4. Writing a master scheduler job description

   A master scheduler job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a master scheduler job description:

   Master scheduler job description example

   If you're looking for a special place to build or grow your career, you've found it. Whether you're an experienced professional, a recent college graduate or somewhere in between, IDEX is a place where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones in an environment where you can make an impact.
   
   With interesting opportunities in engineering, marketing, sales, supply chain, operations, HR, finance, and more across more than 40 diverse businesses around the globe, chances are, we have something special for you.
   
   The AFS Master Scheduling Manager will lead a supply and production planning team consisting of 6 to 10 direct reports to maximize shop capacity for the AFS manufacturing center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Master Scheduling Manager is responsible for slotting and tracking meters, pumps and compressors along with parts thru the supply chain and manufacturing process. In this role, you will also create and maintain a valid master schedule for material and capacity by effectively balancing supplyand demand for future orders and ensure master production schedules are executable and material resource planning profiles are aligned.
   Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
   Lead and coordinate manufacturing and material plans to ensure achieving production targets and timely shipment to customers. Manage and create standard processes for work order release, purchase order release, and schedule attainment. Reviews the Master Production Schedule (MPS) relating to production items and evaluates the need for changes based on daily/weekly activity for a full production program Analyzes the demand and supply balance at the product family and master schedule levels, determining out-of-balance conditions, identifying alternatives and recommending action for approval Monitors the manufacturing performance against the MPS and the execution of the schedule to evaluate results and assisting in the development of future plans Reviews and resolves schedule problems, avoids potential problems resulting from schedule changes, determines the necessity for MPS changes taking appropriate action based on the impact on short- and long-range production/capacity, and recommends changes to the production schedule Reports and escalates out of tolerances of master production schedule and production strategy to internal senior leadership and customer audiences Challenges current manufacturing strategies for all products to be sure that the best manufacturing and most customer-oriented strategy is being used Develops a working knowledge of the company's products and processes to ensure optimal master schedule stability, order creation, rescheduling, and level loading Acts as internal educator and consultant on master scheduling issues, providing education and training throughout the company to improve company-wide understanding of MPS functions Conducts activities in a safe and healthy manner and works in accordance with established ES&H requirements to ensure the protection of associates, the public, and the environment Active participant in monthly SIOP reviews
   
   Qualifications:
   Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering or Technical Discipline required 7+ years of work experience, to include a minimum of 3 years of technical, administrative, or supervisory experience in Production/Program Planning or Material Planning.
   
   We Value:
   Effective technical, analytical, communication and leadership skills Thorough knowledge of the of Materials Management/Supply Chain Planning concepts Experience with Materials Resource Planning (MRP) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software Microsoft Office Suite APICS certification PMP certification
   
   Are you ready to join a different kind of company where our people, our culture, and our commitments are centered around providing trusted solutions that improve lives around the world?
   
   IDEX is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer. IDEX gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other consideration or protected category made unlawful by federal, state or local laws (Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled).

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right master scheduler for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with master schedulers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit master schedulers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your master scheduler job on Zippia to find and recruit master scheduler candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with master scheduler candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new master scheduler

   Once you have selected a candidate for the master scheduler position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new master scheduler. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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