Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between inventory planners and supply planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an inventory planner, becoming a supply planner takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a supply planner has an average salary of $70,602, 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 supply planner are supply chain, logistics, and demand planning.
| Inventory Planner | Supply Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $65,504 | $70,602 |
| Hourly rate | $31.49 | $33.94 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 37,034 | 39,798 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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 supply planner is primarily in charge of maintaining a company's inventory of supplies, ensuring all are sufficient and efficient. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring and counting the inventory, maintaining accurate records, reviewing receipts and other documentation, anticipating product demands, and liaising with vendors and suppliers. Should there be any supply emergencies or issues, one must visit manufacturers or suppliers. There may also be instances where one has to lift products and propose changes in the inventory processes.
Inventory planners and supply planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Planner | Supply Planner | |
| Average salary | $65,504 | $70,602 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $93,000 | Between $48,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Entegris | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory planner and a supply planner in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Planner | Supply Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between inventory planners' and supply planners' demographics:
| Inventory Planner | Supply Planner | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% | Male, 52.2% Female, 47.8% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |