Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between materials directors and materials planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a materials director, becoming a materials planner takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a materials director has an average salary of $127,061, which is higher than the $58,467 average annual salary of a materials planner.
The top three skills for a materials director include supply chain, logistics and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a materials planner are supply chain, MRP, and purchase orders.
| Materials Director | Materials Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $127,061 | $58,467 |
| Hourly rate | $61.09 | $28.11 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 20,718 | 23,019 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 47 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
A materials director oversees daily operations of a purchasing office and storeroom. They oversee an organizations' policies, supervise staff within the purchasing office, distribute supplies, carry out requisitions, coordinate warehouse activities, and maintain relationships with vendors. They also need to keep detailed records of procurement activities and material quantities.
Usually working in a manufacturing setting, a materials planner's role is to manage the supply flow and inventory of materials. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with vendors and other external agencies, processing purchase orders, monitoring the quality of supplies to ensure it is according to the standards, and coordinating with various teams to learn their needs. Furthermore, as a planner, it is essential to devise strategies to resolve any issues, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.
Materials directors and materials planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Director | Materials Planner | |
| Average salary | $127,061 | $58,467 |
| Salary range | Between $92,000 And $173,000 | Between $45,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a materials director and a materials planner in terms of educational background:
| Materials Director | Materials Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between materials directors' and materials planners' demographics:
| Materials Director | Materials Planner | |
| Average age | 47 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.0% Female, 12.0% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |