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The differences between category managers and planning managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a category manager and a planning manager. Additionally, a category manager has an average salary of $102,035, which is higher than the $98,486 average annual salary of a planning manager.
The top three skills for a category manager include strategic sourcing, category strategy and supplier performance. The most important skills for a planning manager are project management, customer service, and strong analytical.
| Category Manager | Planning Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,035 | $98,486 |
| Hourly rate | $49.06 | $47.35 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 108,424 | 137,190 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
Category managers are usually employed in the retail industry. They are primarily responsible for the sales enhancement of a specific group of products. The managers are involved in pricing, marketing, inventory, and vendor management. Their daily tasks include meeting with suppliers to talk about the plans, conducting orientation to the market research company, and updating category reports. Qualified applicants must have a degree in business administration or a related field as well as relevant job experience in a related job.
Planning managers perform various duties and responsibilities for an organization. These include planning and monitoring a project or department's budget, production schedule, and inventory, creating reports of new plans, programs, and regulations, and ensuring development proposals comply with requirements and regulations. Additionally, planning managers are expected to serve as an intermediary between developers, government entities, businesses, and communities. They also oversee site plans, rezoning, and special-use permits, set schedules for the project, and supervise other personnel such as developers and consultants.
Category managers and planning managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Category Manager | Planning Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,035 | $98,486 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $138,000 | Between $71,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | ZS |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a category manager and a planning manager in terms of educational background:
| Category Manager | Planning Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between category managers' and planning managers' demographics:
| Category Manager | Planning Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |