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The differences between inventory planners and master schedulers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an inventory planner and a master scheduler. Additionally, a master scheduler has an average salary of $77,733, which is higher than the $65,504 average annual salary of an inventory planner.
The top three skills for an inventory planner include supply chain, purchase orders and logistics. The most important skills for a master scheduler are customer service, MRP, and program management.
| Inventory Planner | Master Scheduler | |
| Yearly salary | $65,504 | $77,733 |
| Hourly rate | $31.49 | $37.37 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 37,034 | 23,353 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An inventory planner is an individual who is responsible for creating effective inventory plans and strategies to maximize profitability for an organization. Inventory planners are required to produce documents that detail the quantity specifications of the organization's product or equipment. They must maintain their files updated about the inventory by recording them into the organization's databases to avoid possible discrepancies. Inventory planners must also predict future inventory needs and producing plans for buying based on forecasts and sales data.
A master scheduler is in charge of overseeing and developing a company's overall production schedule, ensuring quality and workforce adherence. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to determine their needs, developing daily schedules and objectives, disseminating scheduling notices, and conducting regular inspections to ensure the completion of projects in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, a master scheduler must produce progress reports and encourage workforce members to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Inventory planners and master schedulers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Planner | Master Scheduler | |
| Average salary | $65,504 | $77,733 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $93,000 | Between $59,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Entegris | NVIDIA |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an inventory planner and a master scheduler in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Planner | Master Scheduler | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between inventory planners' and master schedulers' demographics:
| Inventory Planner | Master Scheduler | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% | Male, 64.3% Female, 35.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |