Planner/scheduler vs production control clerk

The differences between planner/schedulers and production control clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a planner/scheduler and a production control clerk. Additionally, a planner/scheduler has an average salary of $71,955, which is higher than the $36,983 average annual salary of a production control clerk.

The top three skills for a planner/scheduler include customer service, production schedules and MRP. The most important skills for a production control clerk are data entry, production reports, and customer orders.

Planner/scheduler vs production control clerk overview

	Planner/Scheduler	Production Control Clerk
Yearly salary	$71,955	$36,983
Hourly rate	$34.59	$17.78
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	22,279	150,965
Job satisfaction	3	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Associate Degree, 33%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a planner/scheduler do?

The duties of a planner/scheduler depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In a manufacturing setting, their responsibilities revolve around creating different schedules for projects, production, releases, contracts, and other deliverables, ensuring everyone's adherence by regular reminders and inspections. Typically, they are also responsible for devising strategies for optimizing operations, coordinating with other skilled professionals to develop controls, maintaining records of all schedules and other necessary documentation, and implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a production control clerk do?

Production control clerks will need to possess skills in data, entry, drafting customer supports and orders, dealing with production workers, and handling material inventory records. Also, clerical skills are a plus. This career calls for the reviewing and distribution of production work and shipment schedules, conferring with department supervisors on work progress and dates of completion, as well as the compilation of work progress reports, inventory levels, costs, and any issues in production.

Planner/scheduler vs production control clerk salary

Planner/schedulers and production control clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Planner/Scheduler	Production Control Clerk
Average salary	$71,955	$36,983
Salary range	Between $49,000 And $105,000	Between $26,000 And $51,000
Highest paying City	Alameda, CA	Harrisburg, PA
Highest paying state	California	New Hampshire
Best paying company	BP America Inc	Fortive
Best paying industry	Energy	Manufacturing

Differences between planner/scheduler and production control clerk education

There are a few differences between a planner/scheduler and a production control clerk in terms of educational background:

	Planner/Scheduler	Production Control Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Associate Degree, 33%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	Western Carolina University

Planner/scheduler vs production control clerk demographics

Here are the differences between planner/schedulers' and production control clerks' demographics:

	Planner/Scheduler	Production Control Clerk
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 65.3% Female, 34.7%	Male, 32.7% Female, 67.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between planner/scheduler and production control clerk duties and responsibilities

Planner/scheduler example responsibilities.

Review maintenance backlog and identify work to be accomplish along with PMs and assist in establishing priorities.
Design, implement and manage MFCY J2's USG, DOD, Interagency and IC external engagement strategy.
Coordinate and manage high visibility and important customer BOM changes.
Act as interface between sales/project managers, engineering, manufacturing operations, purchasing and inventory control / logistics.
Conduct plant wide safety training per OSHA.
Create detail WBS structures and task charge numbers assign budgets.

Production control clerk example responsibilities.

Manage warehouse and shipping departments, responsible for outsourcing secondary machining of materials, purchasing MRO supplies and logistics.
Create shippers and labels, manually or electronically in EDI.
Operate CNC Router/Engraver to produce ADA compliant signs, plaques.
Receive and process order information from customers via e-mail and EDI.
Assist in the setup & programming of CNC machines for production.
Research, recommend, set up and maintain the company's new ERP system.

Planner/scheduler vs production control clerk skills

Common planner/scheduler skills

Customer Service, 9%
Production Schedules, 5%
MRP, 5%
Preventive Maintenance, 4%
CMMS, 4%
Logistics, 4%

Common production control clerk skills

Data Entry, 11%
Production Reports, 11%
Customer Orders, 10%
Production Sheets, 9%
Product Specifications, 8%
Logistics, 7%

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Planner/Scheduler
Planner/Scheduler vs Production Control Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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