Production, planning, and expediting clerks
SOC Code: 43-5061
Production, planning, and expediting clerks carries a 69% AI exposure score (Very High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $57,770 and -1.8% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 388,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 69% AI exposure, Production, planning, and expediting clerks sits 32 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 97% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Production, planning, and expediting clerks sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Production, planning, and expediting clerks has ai exposure of 69%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Production, planning, and expediting clerks vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Production, planning, and expediting clerks is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Production, planning, and expediting clerks (SOC 43-5061) carries an AI exposure score of 69%, placing it in the Very High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 388,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -1.8% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $57,770, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Production, planning, and expediting clerks. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments.
- 2. Revise production schedules when required due to design changes, labor or material shortages, backlogs, or other interruptions, collaborating with management, marketing, sales, production, or engineering.
- 3. Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities.
- 4. Arrange for delivery, assembly, or distribution of supplies or parts to expedite flow of materials and meet production schedules.
- 5. Confer with establishment personnel, vendors, or customers to coordinate production or shipping activities and to resolve complaints or eliminate delays.
- 6. Requisition and maintain inventories of materials or supplies necessary to meet production demands.
- 7. Confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes.
- 8. Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy, and conformance to standards and specifications.
- 9. Plan production commitments or timetables for business units, specific programs, or jobs, using sales forecasts.
- 10. Compile information, such as production rates and progress, materials inventories, materials used, or customer information, so that status reports can be completed.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Time Management
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge Areas
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Personnel and Human Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Production, planning, and expediting clerks?
Production, planning, and expediting clerks has an AI exposure score of 69%, indicating a very high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Production, planning, and expediting clerks?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Production, planning, and expediting clerks is projected to decline by 1.8% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 388,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Production, planning, and expediting clerks?
Key skills for Production, planning, and expediting clerks include Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Production, planning, and expediting clerks earn?
The median annual wage for Production, planning, and expediting clerks is $57,770, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Production, planning, and expediting clerks?
The typical entry-level education for Production, planning, and expediting clerks is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Production, planning, and expediting clerks?
Production, planning, and expediting clerks roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Very High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A majority of tasks in this occupation are susceptible to AI automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).