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The differences between planning specialists and logistics planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a planning specialist and a logistics planner. Additionally, a planning specialist has an average salary of $69,170, which is higher than the $63,554 average annual salary of a logistics planner.
The top three skills for a planning specialist include customer service, logistics and project management. The most important skills for a logistics planner are customer service, supply chain, and continuous improvement.
| Planning Specialist | Logistics Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $69,170 | $63,554 |
| Hourly rate | $33.25 | $30.55 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 31,008 | 30,339 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A planning specialist is responsible for monitoring the project management procedures of an organization's operations, ensuring that the team meets budget goals and deadline deliverables. Planning specialists coordinate with suppliers and other third-party vendors for materials needed in the operations, as well as inspecting the efficiency and performance of equipment to prevent delays. They also manage the team's adherence to production schedule, task delegations, and output deliveries. A planning specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing progress reports and performing other related administrative duties.
A logistics planner is responsible for tracking and monitoring the shipment operations of warehouse and distribution centers. Logistics planners assist with the project management procedures, identifying resources, calculating cost and expenses reports, and the manufacturing timetables. They also coordinate with suppliers and third-party vendors to verify delivery and shipment details and ensure clear and accurate specifics. A logistics planner must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on data processing procedures and updating product information on the database.
Planning specialists and logistics planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Planning Specialist | Logistics Planner | |
| Average salary | $69,170 | $63,554 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $97,000 | Between $48,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rockville, MD | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Meta | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a planning specialist and a logistics planner in terms of educational background:
| Planning Specialist | Logistics Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between planning specialists' and logistics planners' demographics:
| Planning Specialist | Logistics Planner | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% | Male, 65.0% Female, 35.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 11.3% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 11.4% White, 51.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |