How to hire a production scheduler/planner

How to hire a production scheduler/planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step production scheduler/planner hiring guide:

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

What does a production scheduler/planner do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The production scheduler/planner hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A production scheduler/planner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, production scheduler/planners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of production scheduler/planners and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Production Scheduler/Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Production Scheduler/Planner	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$20-40
   Inventory Control Lead	An Inventory Control Lead oversees supplies in an organization, aiming to meet market demands and avoid oversupply. They perform regular inspections and assessments, review invoices and other documentation, monitor product distribution operations, and produce regular progress reports... Show more	$13-34
   Expeditor	The role of expeditors is to ensure the timely and efficient preparation and delivery of food. To accomplish this task, they also perform other duties, including managing inventory levels, managing supply requisition, and coordinating with subcontractors... Show more	$13-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Master Production Schedule
   • MRP
   • Material Availability
   • Production Planning
   • Inventory Control
   • Delivery Dates
   • Customer Orders
   • ERP
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Logistics
   • On-Time Delivery
   • Customer Service
   • Purchase Orders
   • Shop Floor

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage ECO activities for various product lines.
   • Provide daily reports to manage and track customer requirements and provide updates to managers, operations, warehouse and logistics.
   • Manage and maintain inventory levels to the company goals at the raw, sub-assembly, WIP and finish good levels.
   • Utilize EDI communications to manage customer requirements and shipment coordination.
   • Offer internal customer service to all departments while meeting inventory reduction objectives through effective utilization of MRP practices.
   • Review, maintain and adjust KANBAN inventory per customer requirements.

   More production scheduler/planner duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, production scheduler/planners' average salary in wyoming is 51% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level production scheduler/planners 51% less than senior-level production scheduler/planners.
   • Certifications. A production scheduler/planner 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 production scheduler/planner's salary.

   Average production scheduler/planner salary

   $60,287yearly

   $28.98 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level production scheduler/planner salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average production scheduler/planner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$76,687	$37
   2	Washington	$74,845	$36
   3	Oregon	$70,051	$34
   4	New Jersey	$69,964	$34
   5	Massachusetts	$63,874	$31
   6	Texas	$57,335	$28
   7	Indiana	$54,126	$26
   8	Minnesota	$54,016	$26
   9	Nevada	$53,344	$26
   10	Colorado	$53,331	$26
   11	Oklahoma	$52,313	$25
   12	Florida	$52,213	$25
   13	Wisconsin	$51,443	$25
   14	Tennessee	$50,315	$24
   15	Illinois	$50,022	$24
   16	Nebraska	$48,873	$24
   17	Utah	$47,826	$23
   18	North Carolina	$47,333	$23

   Average production scheduler/planner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Xilinx	$102,836	$49.44
   2	Fluke	$95,503	$45.91
   3	Entegris	$87,333	$41.99	8
   4	Tesco Corp	$75,962	$36.52
   5	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$73,414	$35.30	32
   6	Yoh	$71,534	$34.39
   7	Shiseido	$68,907	$33.13
   8	Pfizer	$68,822	$33.09	7
   9	Crown Equipment	$67,870	$32.63	4
   10	McKesson	$65,735	$31.60
   11	IDEX	$64,848	$31.18	11
   12	Northrop Grumman	$63,265	$30.42	19
   13	Sanmina	$62,471	$30.03	16
   14	Optimum Nutrition	$61,336	$29.49	10
   15	Donaldson	$60,225	$28.95	23
   16	Mondelēz International	$59,399	$28.56	13
   17	QinetiQ North America	$58,548	$28.15
   18	Cooper Standard	$58,353	$28.05	2
   19	LiDestri Food and Drink	$58,347	$28.05	2
   20	CyberOptics	$58,261	$28.01

4. Writing a production scheduler/planner job description

   A production scheduler/planner 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. Below, you can find an example of a production scheduler/planner job description:

   Production scheduler/planner job description example

   We are a manufacturing company of food and pet food with 14 locations, mainly in the Midwest. Our company culture is that of Respect for all our associates, as well as a firm belief in developing them to prepare them for their future and the future of our company's expansion plans.

   Production schedulers use their knowledge of the production process and reports to create daily and weekly production schedules. They must also be able to comprehend reports and make recommendations about where improvements might be made.

   As a production scheduler, you should be able to multitask and provide quick responses to production problems. As generating reports and schedules may require the use of software, you must also have an aptitude for computers. A top-notch production scheduler should help ensure that company objectives are achieved and that all deadlines are met.

   Production Scheduler Responsibilities:

   • Creating and maintaining schedules.
   • Using workers and resources in the most effective manner.
   • Providing quick responses to production issues.
   • Identifying problems and helping improve processes.
   • Using software to generate reports and schedules.
   • Ensuring that company deadlines are met.

   Production Scheduler Requirements:

   • Associate's degree in management, bachelor's may be preferred.
   • Experience in production.
   • Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks.
   • Proficiency with computers.
   • Ability to create and understand reports in order to make production decisions.
   • A desire to promote the success of the organization and production staff.
   • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel

   MSI Express offers a team oriented environment that is focused on Safety, Quality and Process Improvement.

   MSI Express offers advancement opportunities, affordable benefits and 401 (k) participation.

   MSI Express participates in E-Verify.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right production scheduler/planner for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit production scheduler/planners, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   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 production scheduler/planner

   Once you've selected the best production scheduler/planner candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new production scheduler/planner. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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How much does it cost to hire a production scheduler/planner?