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The differences between materials planning managers and material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials planning manager has an average salary of $95,361, which is higher than the $33,215 average annual salary of a material handler.
The top three skills for a materials planning manager include material planning, logistics and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.
| Materials Planning Manager | Material Handler | |
| Yearly salary | $95,361 | $33,215 |
| Hourly rate | $45.85 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 32,967 | 174,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
Materials planning managers are management professionals who are responsible for developing material planning processes to enable operational and production continuity in a manufacturing firm. These managers must ensure that the supply of materials is available so that they can meet and satisfy production requirements. They must manage and develop a team that meets objectives and delivers best practice results and continuous improvements. Material planning managers must also collaborate with the purchasing team to evaluate the performance of suppliers and provide resolution about their concerns.
Material handlers are responsible for moving products, storing items, and managing supplies to proper shelf categories. A material handler also documents deliveries and ensures that all items for shipment are correct and free of any damage. Material handlers must also be a fast-learner to operate various warehouse equipment that would make the task more efficient and less time-consuming. A material handler must also check all the incoming deliveries to validate all purchases made. Material handlers must be able to analyze sheet orders and prepare the correct merchandise the client needs.
Materials planning managers and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Planning Manager | Material Handler | |
| Average salary | $95,361 | $33,215 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $124,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Fitbit | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a materials planning manager and a material handler in terms of educational background:
| Materials Planning Manager | Material Handler | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | High School Diploma, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between materials planning managers' and material handlers' demographics:
| Materials Planning Manager | Material Handler | |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.2% Female, 22.8% | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 7.4% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |