Forklift Operator vs Production Planner
Pay, skills and open jobs side by side, from current job postings across the US.
Pay
Forklift Operator
$42,600 typical, a year
Most Forklift Operators earn $38,500 to $45,800 a year.
From 928 postings that list pay
6,294 open jobs now
Production Planner
$82,200 typical, a year
Most Production Planners earn $71,000 to $96,000 a year.
From 529 postings that list pay
1,771 open jobs now
Production Planners typically earn about $39,600 more a year than Forklift Operators.
What each one does
Forklift Operator
- Unload inbound shipments and move products to appropriate locations.
- Load and unload trucks, trailers, and containers safely and efficiently.
- Stack and store products in designated areas using a forklift.
- Pull and prepare products for shipment by ensuring the exact number and type is loaded.
- Operate all equipment in a safe and efficient manner following warehouse safety standards.
- Perform accurate inventory handling and documentation as required.
Summed up from 30 job postings
Production Planner
- Develop and maintain production schedules based on customer demand and available capacity.
- Coordinate with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure materials are available when needed.
- Monitor inventory levels and material requirements to prevent shortages and overstocking.
- Communicate schedule changes and production priorities to relevant departments and stakeholders.
- Track production progress and adjust plans based on delays, shortages, or priority changes.
- Partner with operations, maintenance, and facility teams to develop workforce plans aligned with production.
Summed up from 30 job postings
Skills employers ask for
Forklift Operator
Asked for in both
- Inventory Management 1 in 10 postings
More common in Forklift Operator postings
- Forklift Operation 8 in 10 postings
- Forklift Certification 3 in 10 postings
- High School Diploma 3 in 10 postings
- Pallet Jack 2 in 10 postings
- Material Handling Equipment 1 in 10 postings
- Warehouse Management 1 in 10 postings
- RF Scanner 1 in 10 postings
- Material Handling 1 in 10 postings
- Cycle Counting 1 in 10 postings
Production Planner
Asked for in both
- Inventory Management 3 in 10 postings
More common in Production Planner postings
- Production Planning 6 in 10 postings
- Microsoft Excel 5 in 10 postings
- MRP 5 in 10 postings
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) 4 in 10 postings
- Microsoft Office 3 in 10 postings
- SAP 3 in 10 postings
- Material Planning 3 in 10 postings
- Manufacturing 2 in 10 postings
- Supply Chain Management 2 in 10 postings
Out of each role's current postings.
Open jobs
Forklift Operator
3rd Shift Forklift Driver
VarsitybrandsPay not stated TX - Grand Prairie OnsiteMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OfficeForklift Operation
Production Planner
Sr Analyst, Production Planner
JobzMall$49,600 - $82,360/yrstated SC-Greenwood OnsiteInventory ManagementMaterial HandlingWarehouse ManagementProduction PlanningProduction Dispatcher
Valmont$25.4 - $31.8/hr Employer statedFarmington MNMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft ExcelInventory ManagementOracle Discoverer +4Material Planner
Anduril Industries$108k - $143k/yrstated Quonset, Rhode Island, United StatesTableauPower BIEnterprise Resource Planning (ERP)Inventory ManagementOracle +10
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