Senior production planner vs production clerk

The differences between senior production planners and production 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 senior production planner and a production clerk. Additionally, a senior production planner has an average salary of $81,198, which is higher than the $32,281 average annual salary of a production clerk.

The top three skills for a senior production planner include production planning, ERP and logistics. The most important skills for a production clerk are basic math, data entry, and safety procedures.

Senior production planner vs production clerk overview

	Senior Production Planner	Production Clerk
Yearly salary	$81,198	$32,281
Hourly rate	$39.04	$15.52
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	67,432	241,271
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	High School Diploma, 31%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a senior production planner do?

Senior production planners decide on items to be manufactured and their quantities based on carefully researched consumer demand forecasts. The production planners analyze data to revise staff schedules to reach the agreed quota in the manufacturing process. They find solutions for internal material concerns like quality checking and transfer issues. Also, they make sure that the products at the end of the manufacturing phase pass their quality standards.

What does a production clerk do?

Production clerks are involved with parts, warehousing, and inventory management operations. Those who choose this career path will be required to review and distribute production, work, and shipment schedules, as well as confer with department supervisors in order to determine the progress of work and completion dates. Production clerks also compile reports on things like work progress, inventory levels, cost, and production issues.

Senior production planner vs production clerk salary

Senior production planners and production clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior Production Planner	Production Clerk
Average salary	$81,198	$32,281
Salary range	Between $64,000 And $102,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Fremont, CA	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	Idaho	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Intuitive Surgical	Rich Products
Best paying industry	Health Care	Manufacturing

Differences between senior production planner and production clerk education

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

	Senior Production Planner	Production Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	High School Diploma, 31%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	Western Carolina University

Senior production planner vs production clerk demographics

Here are the differences between senior production planners' and production clerks' demographics:

	Senior Production Planner	Production Clerk
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1%	Male, 31.8% Female, 68.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 7.2% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between senior production planner and production clerk duties and responsibilities

Senior production planner example 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.
Reconcile inventory and make sure the allocated inventory is flushed out against work orders in process (WIP).
Perform key tasks, including BOM accuracy and shipment of materials that enable successful transfer of tools to volume manufacturing.

Production clerk example responsibilities.

Flight line expediter ensures maintenance accomplishment and sortie production by managing, controlling and directing allocate resources and personnel.
Clean windows, glass partitions, and mirrors with water and other cleaners with sponges and squeegees.
Coordinate with multiple sewing facilities to expedite late customer orders.
Ship via fed ex and ups.
Observe and follow GMP guidelines ensuring product quality.
Perform cycle counting of WIP and complete inventories.

Senior production planner vs production clerk skills

Common senior production planner skills

Production Planning, 5%
ERP, 5%
Logistics, 4%
Lean Manufacturing, 4%
Capacity Constraints, 4%
Purchase Orders, 4%

Common production clerk skills

Basic Math, 16%
Data Entry, 16%
Safety Procedures, 8%
Math, 8%
Production Reports, 4%
GMP, 4%

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Senior Production Planner
Senior Production Planner vs Production Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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