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The differences between logisticians and planning specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a logistician and a planning specialist. Additionally, a logistician has an average salary of $73,958, which is higher than the $69,170 average annual salary of a planning specialist.
The top three skills for a logistician include life cycle, DOD and supply chain. The most important skills for a planning specialist are customer service, logistics, and project management.
| Logistician | Planning Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,958 | $69,170 |
| Hourly rate | $35.56 | $33.25 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 9,995 | 31,008 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A logistician is an expert in the analysis and coordination of the supply chain within an organization. Logisticians supervise activities like purchasing, inventory, warehousing, and transportation. They may direct the movement of people, supplies, or goods from consumer goods to military personnel and supplies. It is their job to plan and track product movement using software systems. They manage the demand and supply of corporate products and/or services. Also, they arrange the transportation and storage of the materials.
A planning specialist is responsible for monitoring the project management procedures of an organization's operations, ensuring that the team meets budget goals and deadline deliverables. Planning specialists coordinate with suppliers and other third-party vendors for materials needed in the operations, as well as inspecting the efficiency and performance of equipment to prevent delays. They also manage the team's adherence to production schedule, task delegations, and output deliveries. A planning specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing progress reports and performing other related administrative duties.
Logisticians and planning specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Logistician | Planning Specialist | |
| Average salary | $73,958 | $69,170 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $111,000 | Between $49,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Rockville, MD |
| Highest paying state | Michigan | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a logistician and a planning specialist in terms of educational background:
| Logistician | Planning Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between logisticians' and planning specialists' demographics:
| Logistician | Planning Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.0% Female, 30.0% | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 10.3% White, 48.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 11.3% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |