Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks

Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks score 60 out of 100, which is high exposure to AI. That ranks #97 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 17 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 5 on its own and 11 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 10 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

60/ 100

High

Rank: #97of 923 jobs
US workers: 390,160BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $59,650a year
In real AI use: 10 of 17tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 5 (29%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 11 (65%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 1 (6%)

Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Calculate figures, such as required amounts of labor or materials, manufacturing costs, or wages, using pricing schedules, adding machines, calculators, or computers.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Maintain files, such as maintenance records, bills of lading, or cost reports.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Provide documentation and information to account for delays, difficulties, or changes to cost estimates.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
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.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Arrange for delivery, assembly, or distribution of supplies or parts to expedite flow of materials and meet production schedules.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Confer with establishment personnel, vendors, or customers to coordinate production or shipping activities and to resolve complaints or eliminate delays.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Requisition and maintain inventories of materials or supplies necessary to meet production demands.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Plan production commitments or timetables for business units, specific programs, or jobs, using sales forecasts.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Compile information, such as production rates and progress, materials inventories, materials used, or customer information, so that status reports can be completed.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Examine documents, materials, or products and monitor work processes to assess completeness, accuracy, and conformance to standards and specifications.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Compile and prepare documentation related to production sequences, transportation, personnel schedules, or purchase, maintenance, or repair orders.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Contact suppliers to verify shipment details.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Record production data, including volume produced, consumption of raw materials, or quality control measures.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Establish and prepare product construction directions and locations and information on required tools, materials, equipment, numbers of workers needed, and cost projections.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use

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Questions about production, planning, and expediting clerks and AI

Will AI replace production, planning, and expediting clerks?

Probably not entirely, but the job is likely to change a lot. Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks score 60 out of 100 (high exposure), #97 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 16 of the job's 17 tasks, 5 of them on its own, while 1 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which production, planning, and expediting clerks tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments"; "Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities"; "Calculate figures, such as required amounts of labor or materials, manufacturing costs, or wages, using pricing schedules, adding machines, calculators, or computers".

Which production, planning, and expediting clerks tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Confer with department supervisors or other personnel to assess progress and discuss needed changes".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 10 of the 17 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as production, planning, and expediting clerks, and what do they earn?

About 390,160 people in the US, with median pay of $59,650 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.