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What is a senior production planner and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

Senior production planners design the blueprint for how products are made. They decide which products should be manufactured and the exact quantities their company needs. They set quotas for the manufacturing process and generate feasible timetables that will meet those quotas. Senior production planners also make sure to do quality checks, taking into account carefully researched consumer data and feedback.

Most employers require their senior production planners to at least have a college diploma. We found that employed American senior production planners commonly hold degrees in business, supply chain management, and management. Other qualifications include strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

A senior production planner in the United States earns an average yearly salary of roughly about $71,000. That's more or less $17 an hour. Suppose you want to cash in a bigger paycheck. In that case, you might want to look for employers that offer more competitive salaries like Harris, Boston Scientific, and Tesla that pay $88,000 or more to their senior production planners on average.

ScoreSenior Production PlannerUS Average
Salary
6.3

Avg. Salary $81,198

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.8

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%

Asian 7.19%

Black or African American 9.56%

Hispanic or Latino 17.56%

Unknown 4.98%

White 60.18%

Gender

female 33.05%

male 66.95%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress level
7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.9

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Senior production planner career paths

Key steps to become a senior production planner

  1. Explore senior production planner education requirements

    Most common senior production planner degrees

    Bachelor's

    63.3 %

    Associate

    20.9 %

    Master's

    8.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior production planner skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Production Planning5.16%
    ERP4.71%
    Logistics4.38%
    Lean Manufacturing3.94%
    Capacity Constraints3.72%
  3. Complete relevant senior production planner training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior production planners learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior production planner based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior production planner resumes.
  4. Research senior production planner duties and responsibilities

    • Manage forecast product as required by customer needs, including VMI and KANBAN programs.
    • Manage cost effective inventory levels for purchase & manufacture assemblies through ERP maintenance of WIP, safety stock & lead-time settings.
    • Set up reverse logistics supply chain to manage customer returns enabling timely replacement or repair to customers satisfying contractual agreements.
    • Manage customer requirements including factory schedules/production, planning and order integrity by directing manufacturing and logistics to optimize supply chain availability.
  5. Get senior production planner experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior production planner. The most common roles before becoming a senior production planner include production planner, planner team lead and master scheduler.
  6. Prepare your senior production planner resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior production planner resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior production planner resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior production planner resume templates

    Build a professional senior production planner resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior production planner resume.
    Senior Production Planner Resume
    Senior Production Planner Resume
    Senior Production Planner Resume
    Senior Production Planner Resume
    Senior Production Planner Resume
    Senior Production Planner Resume
    Senior Production Planner Resume
    Senior Production Planner Resume
    Senior Production Planner Resume
  7. Apply for senior production planner jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior production planner job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior production planner job

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Average senior production planner salary

The average senior production planner salary in the United States is $81,198 per year or $39 per hour. Senior production planner salaries range between $64,000 and $102,000 per year.

Average senior production planner salary
$81,198 Yearly
$39.04 hourly

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How do senior production planners rate their job?

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Senior production planner reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Because you will know able equipment and know the planning produce,system like SAP or A/N, PO, PR and SES PROCESS

Cons

Are love the short and long time plant, it make you know so many process in that. thanks


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

KEEPING THE INVENTORY AND COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE

Cons

THERE ISN'T ANYTHING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT YET. BUT I WOULD LIKE MORE MONEY,


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

I work with an amazing team. To an extent I feel as if I have creative freedom. There are stressful days. In the end, its worth it and I love the challenge.

Cons

The stressful days, and disappointment associated with it.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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