How much do planning managers make?

Planning managers make $105,406 a year, on average. That equates to $50.68 an hour. Planning managers oversee and execute complex operational strategies, typically working within one or more specific departments within an organization. Planning manager pay ranges from an average of $76,000 for entry-level positions up to the low six-figures for more senior roles.

What do you need to be a planning manager?

You need a college degree and a combination of organizational skills to be a planning man. The specific skill-set necessary to succeed in the planning manager role will depend on the job title, which usually depends on the department.

What is a planning manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Priya Nagaraj

A planning manager oversees and coordinates the development and implementation of strategic plans. They work closely with senior management to identify business goals then create plans to achieve those goals. A planning manager monitors the progress of their team, making adjustments as necessary to ensure that objectives are met within budget and on time. They may also be responsible for managing professionals who provide support in data analysis, market research, and financial forecasting.

What general advice would you give to a planning manager?

Priya Nagaraj

Professor of Economics and Global Business, Website

Students should be able to analyze and interpret data. For instance, demand forecasting and predictive analytics are a large part of this industry today. As the number of regulations across nations increases, it is important to have at least some knowledge of foreign regulations. Cross-cultural knowledge and experience are always a plus in this area for prospective employees. People skills are also important along with knowledge of additional languages.

ScorePlanning ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $98,486

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 8.15%

Black or African American 3.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.67%

Unknown 5.32%

White 74.58%

Gender

female 35.90%

male 64.10%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a planning manager?

Pros

Competitive salary, benefits, and job security
Possibility for career growth and advancement
Exposure to different industries and sectors
Flexibility in terms of work arrangements
Satisfaction of seeing a project through from start to finish

Cons

High-pressure work environment with tight deadlines
Long hours and demanding workload
Dealing with conflicts and disagreements among stakeholders
Limited control over external factors that can affect project outcomes
Potential for burnout due to the intensity of the job

Key steps to become a planning manager

Explore planning manager education requirements

Most common planning manager degrees

Bachelor's

71.9 %

Master's

17.6 %

Associate

7.3 %

Start to develop specific planning manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	11.10%
Customer Service	7.81%
Strong Analytical	7.48%
KPIs	6.58%
Demand Planning	6.50%

Complete relevant planning manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New planning managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a planning manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real planning manager resumes.

Research planning manager duties and responsibilities

Lead a team that contribute to Mexico achieving the #1 market position through the implementation of CPFR and sales support.
Manage commodities teams in support of program execution.
Lead initial rollout of JDA / manugistics concepts and forecasting operations.
Manage and analyze monthly OTB opportunities base on receipt projections using JDA.

Prepare your planning manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your planning manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a planning manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable planning manager resume templates

Build a professional planning manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your planning manager resume.

Apply for planning manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a planning manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do planning managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Planning manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019

Pros

I am continuously working to develop my the communication and computer skills necessary listed in the job description job description. My formal education which is bachelors degree in philosophy and a minor in economics. I am currently furthering my education in the area of computer science.

Cons

I am working to improve my area of concern which is having limitations when managing employees.

What is a planning manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a planning manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a planning manager?

Planning manager career paths

Key steps to become a planning manager

Explore planning manager education requirements

Most common planning manager degrees

Start to develop specific planning manager skills

Complete relevant planning manager training and internships

Research planning manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your planning manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable planning manager resume templates

Apply for planning manager jobs

How did you land your first planning manager job

Average planning manager salary

How do planning managers rate their job?

Planning manager reviews

Planning manager FAQs

How much do planning managers make?

What do you need to be a planning manager?

Search for planning manager jobs