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Planning analyst vs project analyst

The differences between planning analysts and project analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a planning analyst and a project analyst. Additionally, a project analyst has an average salary of $71,174, which is higher than the $68,137 average annual salary of a planning analyst.

The top three skills for a planning analyst include project management, customer service and data analysis. The most important skills for a project analyst are project management, data analysis, and customer service.

Planning analyst vs project analyst overview

Planning AnalystProject Analyst
Yearly salary$68,137$71,174
Hourly rate$32.76$34.22
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs92,380207,513
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a planning analyst do?

As a planning analyst, you will be responsible for designing and implementing a company's business and marketing strategies with the goal of driving profits and reducing costs. You will propose measures to enhance an organization's overall efficiency, and guide managers on ways to strengthen profit margins through risk awareness reduced costs, and increased revenues. Other duties include conducting risk analyses to identify areas of potential failure, maintaining the business continuity program, and handling internal and external corporate communications with the investment community and industry analysts.

What does a project analyst do?

A project analyst is responsible for overseeing the development of new projects upon completion of data gathering. A project analyst must provide plans and design the project to its full potential. For this, it is essential to conduct extensive research and coordinate with all staff and departments involved through regular reports and various forms of communication. Furthermore, a project analyst must devise strategies to improve particular projects for it to succeed and achieve better results, all in adherence to the company policies and regulations.

Planning analyst vs project analyst salary

Planning analysts and project analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Planning AnalystProject Analyst
Average salary$68,137$71,174
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $93,000Between $52,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew Jersey
Best paying companyMetaGoogle
Best paying industryAutomotiveManufacturing

Differences between planning analyst and project analyst education

There are a few differences between a planning analyst and a project analyst in terms of educational background:

Planning AnalystProject Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Planning analyst vs project analyst demographics

Here are the differences between planning analysts' and project analysts' demographics:

Planning AnalystProject Analyst
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 53.4% Female, 46.6%Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 13.7% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between planning analyst and project analyst duties and responsibilities

Planning analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage 160 footwear SKUs across 3700 stores to ensure optimal inventory depths during peak time frames.
  • Reduce work in process inventory by use of KANBAN system which also lead to improve customer service.
  • Manage suppliers (KPI's) to deliver target cost, service and quality levels in each operating center.
  • Manage cross-functional team which successfully create a manual for ISO 9000 certification and develop a training program for new hires.
  • Lead monthly and quarterly EAC forecasting and consolidate forecasts in support of corporate financial reporting.
  • Prepare requests for quotes (RFQ) and requests for improvement (RFI) for distribution to existing and potential suppliers.
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Project analyst example responsibilities.

  • Develop infrastructure to enable clients to better understand and manage risks associate with their decision environment to capture opportunities.
  • Develop and maintain VISIO process diagrams.
  • Coordinate system upgrades, interface development, QA testing and end-user training.
  • Originate, track, and submit final samples of promotional materials to FDA.
  • Team member that implement bar code system, close reductions and Hyperion software.
  • Project utilize DB2, CICS, MQ-Series software in a mainframe/NT workstation environment.
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Planning analyst vs project analyst skills

Common planning analyst skills
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Logistics, 6%
  • Strong Analytical, 5%
  • SQL, 5%
Common project analyst skills
  • Project Management, 22%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Status Reports, 5%
  • SharePoint, 4%
  • PMP, 4%

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