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The differences between materials planners and material analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a materials planner, becoming a material analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a material analyst has an average salary of $66,092, which is higher than the $58,467 average annual salary of a materials planner.
The top three skills for a materials planner include supply chain, MRP and purchase orders. The most important skills for a material analyst are supply chain, logistics, and MRP.
| Materials Planner | Material Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $58,467 | $66,092 |
| Hourly rate | $28.11 | $31.77 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 23,019 | 48,758 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
A materials analyst is responsible for managing the assets and materials of an organization, ensuring the adequacy of office inventories to support business operational functions. Materials analysts identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. They handle the distribution of goods and order processes according to the company's supply chain management. A materials analyst must have excellent organizational and analytical skills, especially in conducting data and statistical analysis to obtain high-quality materials that would meet the customers' demands.
Materials planners and material analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Planner | Material Analyst | |
| Average salary | $58,467 | $66,092 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $74,000 | Between $49,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Union City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Micron Technology |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a materials planner and a material analyst in terms of educational background:
| Materials Planner | Material Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between materials planners' and material analysts' demographics:
| Materials Planner | Material Analyst | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% | Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |