Materials planner vs production scheduler

The differences between materials planners and production schedulers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a materials planner and a production scheduler. Additionally, a materials planner has an average salary of $58,467, which is higher than the $49,367 average annual salary of a production scheduler.

The top three skills for a materials planner include supply chain, MRP and purchase orders. The most important skills for a production scheduler are customer service, MRP, and continuous improvement.

Materials planner vs production scheduler overview

	Materials Planner	Production Scheduler
Yearly salary	$58,467	$49,367
Hourly rate	$28.11	$23.73
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	23,019	64,551
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a materials planner do?

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.

What does a production scheduler do?

A production scheduler is in charge of developing manufacturing schedules to achieve short and long term production goals. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing research and analysis to understand the extent of all procedures, identifying the needs of clients, and devising strategies for optimal operations. They must also monitor the company's resources and workforce to ensure that everything runs smoothly in adherence to all schedules, making changes only when necessary. Furthermore, as a production scheduler, it is essential to encourage the workforce to reach goals and deadlines, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Materials planner vs production scheduler salary

Materials planners and production schedulers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Materials Planner	Production Scheduler
Average salary	$58,467	$49,367
Salary range	Between $45,000 And $74,000	Between $33,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City	Oakland, CA	Richmond, VA
Highest paying state	California	Virginia
Best paying company	Apple	Amphenol
Best paying industry	Automotive	Technology

Differences between materials planner and production scheduler education

There are a few differences between a materials planner and a production scheduler in terms of educational background:

	Materials Planner	Production Scheduler
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	Western Carolina University

Materials planner vs production scheduler demographics

Here are the differences between materials planners' and production schedulers' demographics:

	Materials Planner	Production Scheduler
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3%	Male, 54.3% Female, 45.7%
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, 10.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 7.4% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between materials planner and production scheduler duties and responsibilities

Materials planner example responsibilities.

Develop and implement purchasing and contract management, policies and procedures and manage ISO documents and improvements.
Determine material and component requirements base on the MRP system and ensure availability to support production schedules.
Monitor MRP forecasts, inventory, customer demand, production requirements, inventory transactions and reject material.
Create and maintain MRP classification codes in addition to reviewing BOM accuracy to ensure correct component identification, ordering and release.
Maintain and setup supplier pull systems (KANBAN).
Key team member in planning, training, implementation, and support of a new ERP system.

Production scheduler example responsibilities.

Lead a Kaizen to improve efficiency and reduce non-value add work in the scheduling department.
Manage and purchase all MRO material inventory supplies for the production of automotive safety products.
Design, develop, and manage process of ordering and maintaining materials not migrate into ERP system.
Supervise NPI chip fulfillment process - manage wafer starts to meet internal qualification and board level build plan.
Generate prioritize schedules by manufacturing work centers base on MRP requirements, material availability, and capacity constraints.
Inventory reduction, JIT, OTD ,

Materials planner vs production scheduler skills

Common materials planner skills

Supply Chain, 12%
MRP, 8%
Purchase Orders, 5%
Logistics, 5%
Customer Service, 5%
Material Planning, 5%

Common production scheduler skills

Customer Service, 12%
MRP, 7%
Continuous Improvement, 6%
ERP, 5%
Production Planning, 4%
Lean Manufacturing, 3%

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Materials Planner vs Production Scheduler

Updated January 8, 2025

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