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Planner vs transportation planner

The differences between planners and transportation planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a planner and a transportation planner. Additionally, a transportation planner has an average salary of $68,983, which is higher than the $63,161 average annual salary of a planner.

The top three skills for a planner include customer service, exceptional client and logistics. The most important skills for a transportation planner are customer service, GIS, and project management.

Planner vs transportation planner overview

PlannerTransportation Planner
Yearly salary$63,161$68,983
Hourly rate$30.37$33.16
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs15,26921,425
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a planner do?

As the name entails, planners assist in creating a broad vision for a community. They conduct research, design, and advanced programs. Some of them focus on a few roles, such as planning transportation, while some will most likely work at different planning types throughout their profession. They develop a plan through data analysis, determine the project's goals or the community, and form a specific vision. They also identify the strategies to help the city realized its goals and vision.

What does a transportation planner do?

A transportation planner takes responsibility for developing transportation strategies encompassing transportation needs. Transportation planners work along with government agencies for the selection and development of plans organizing mass transit. They communicate through social media in written, visual, or oral forms. It is part of their duty to design leaflets and questionnaires to communicate and receive feedback from the public. They also take part in meetings more often for note-taking, scheduling, and attendance. They need to be well-versed in algebra, geometry, calculus, and arithmetic.

Planner vs transportation planner salary

Planners and transportation planners have different pay scales, as shown below.

PlannerTransportation Planner
Average salary$63,161$68,983
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $88,000Between $50,000 And $93,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between planner and transportation planner education

There are a few differences between a planner and a transportation planner in terms of educational background:

PlannerTransportation Planner
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Planner vs transportation planner demographics

Here are the differences between planners' and transportation planners' demographics:

PlannerTransportation Planner
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 54.4% Female, 45.6%Male, 60.6% Female, 39.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between planner and transportation planner duties and responsibilities

Planner example responsibilities.

  • Develop and managing the database for CDBG applicants.
  • Key role in managing and planning projects from sketch to approve plans.
  • Manage creation of replenishment loads (purchase or DRP) that are optimize to minimize logistical costs.
  • Assist with forecasting machines, accessories, and coffee with various departments in order to achieve monthly KPI's.
  • Develop and manage all types of inventory from finish goods, WIP (work in process) to raw material.
  • Manage RFQ process - gather quotations, examine bids with engineering and management, negotiate prices with suppliers and make awards.
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Transportation planner example responsibilities.

  • Manage the carrier scorecard, ensuring using proper mode, SCAC code, tending vs acceptance ratio and other KPI's.
  • Manage the account by performing detail cost/benefit analysis and WMS analysis.
  • Prepare and provide dispatch information to suppliers and freight forwarders, so cargo pick-up can be arrange.
  • Provide extensive interaction and communication with freight forwarders and customs brokers globally.
  • Work on a variety of transportation planning projects that are NEPA compliant.
  • Act as the project leader setting up Manugistics, WMS, AS400.
  • Show more

Planner vs transportation planner skills

Common planner skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Exceptional Client, 8%
  • Logistics, 8%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
Common transportation planner skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • GIS, 9%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Corridor, 6%
  • Logistics, 6%
  • Regional Planning, 5%

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