How much does a production clerk make?
a year · about $29 an hour
A typical production clerk in the United States makes $59,650 a year, about $29 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check production schedules and inventory on a computer, then talk with supervisors or suppliers about progress and missing parts. If a delivery is late or work backs up, they adjust the schedule and report what is happening.
Did you know? A production clerk may have to rewrite the factory’s schedule when parts run short or work backs up—not just record what already happened.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $40,080 and $86,000How do you become one?
In the U.S., the usual starting point is a high school diploma or GED; a college degree may help but is not usually required. New clerks learn their employer’s systems on the job, often for several months (up to six).
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and the difficulty of the schedules or materials a clerk handles can affect pay. Pay also varies by employer industry and location; useful computer skills or extra credentials may help someone earn more.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Rhode Island ($65,310), lowest in New Mexico ($49,640).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a factory clerk averages $36,240. Production clerk salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,080 | $59,650 | $86,000 | about 390,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $65,310 | about 960 |
| Colorado | $63,980 | about 8,000 |
| Hawaii | $63,780 | about 1,000 |
| Connecticut | $63,240 | about 4,000 |
| California | $63,000 | about 56,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Project Management Specialists” (13-1082) and “Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping” (43-5111).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/material-recording-clerks.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-5061.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2021/May/oes435061.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/skills/zone/43-5061.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY