Production Planner: career path and pay in the US
Where a Production Planner goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Production Planner to Director of Production Planning / VP of Supply Chain.
Also for the United Kingdom: Production Planner in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 3 years
Production Planner
$65K to $100K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Production Planning Certification (optional) - Global, Manufacturing Safety Certification (required) - Global, Health & Safety Certification (required) - Global.
Step 2 · 3 to 7 years
Senior Production Planner
$70K to $105K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Production Planning Certification - Global, Manufacturing Safety Certification - Global, Health & Safety Certification - Global, PMP (optional) - Global.
Step 3 · 7 to 12 years
Production Planning Manager / Supply Chain Manager
$75K to $115K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Production Planning Certification - Global, Manufacturing Safety Certification - Global, Health & Safety Certification - Global, PMP - Global.
Step 4 · 12+ years
Director of Production Planning / VP of Supply Chain
$90K to $135K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Production Planning Certification - Global, Manufacturing Safety Certification - Global, Health & Safety Certification - Global, PMP - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
52% → 24%
Falls 28 points. Each step is harder to automate than the last. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$65K to $100K → $90K to $135K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US.
What the work involves
Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
Education people bring
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED): 37%
- Some College Courses: 21%
- Less than a High School Diploma: 20%
Job Zone 2, job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Other paths from here
- Supply Chain Manager
- Operations Manager
- Production Manager
- Logistics Director
More Manufacturing/Warehouse paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Project Management Specialists, Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks, First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand, First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping.
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.