Product planner vs production controller

The differences between product planners and production controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a product planner and a production controller. Additionally, a product planner has an average salary of $94,669, which is higher than the $53,125 average annual salary of a production controller.

The top three skills for a product planner include product development, product planning and product line. The most important skills for a production controller are production control, production planning, and logistics.

Product planner vs production controller overview

	Product Planner	Production Controller
Yearly salary	$94,669	$53,125
Hourly rate	$45.51	$25.54
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	85,346	71,747
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 76%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a product planner do?

Product planner positions require a battery of skills, including decisiveness, stress management, leadership, organization, communication, statistics, business operations, computer literacy, and problem-solving, to name a few. Those who choose this career will be required to involve internally-focused decisions, steps, and tasks necessary to develop a successful product.

What does a production controller do?

A production controller is in charge of overseeing manufacturing operations, ensuring the workflow adheres to the quality standards, budgets, and deadlines. It is their duty to develop production and inventory control techniques, coordinate with managers to establish objectives and guidelines, review production plans and job orders, and supervise the supply chain operations. They also monitor every procedure, implement solutions in problem areas, and produce progress reports as needed. Furthermore, as a production controller, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with the production team while implementing the company's protocols and policies.

Product planner vs production controller salary

Product planners and production controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Product Planner	Production Controller
Average salary	$94,669	$53,125
Salary range	Between $71,000 And $124,000	Between $37,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Fremont, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Apple	Intuitive Surgical
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between product planner and production controller education

There are a few differences between a product planner and a production controller in terms of educational background:

	Product Planner	Production Controller
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 76%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Western Carolina University

Product planner vs production controller demographics

Here are the differences between product planners' and production controllers' demographics:

	Product Planner	Production Controller
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 57.2% Female, 42.8%	Male, 64.0% Female, 36.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between product planner and production controller duties and responsibilities

Product planner example responsibilities.

Manage company MRP purchases including contractor and consultant contract review.
Perform financial forecasting, leveraging MRP to plan performance of products and evaluate ROI of raw materials.
Task with supervising raw materials suppliers for computer test equipment construction using several ERP systems.
Support implementation of new ERP system (MFGPRO Eb2) relate to engineering procurement systems and processes.
Set up KANBAN to assure the steady flow of parts without stock outs as well as growing inventories.
Work collaboratively with purchasing, production, engineering, quality control, BOM analysts, buyers, and suppliers.

Production controller example responsibilities.

Manage multiple windows to access accurate inventory, P.O numbers and job numbers.
Schedule production and manage inventory of raw materials and finish products using the MRP inventory control system.
Manage production order releases base on space, capacity, man power and indenture BOM build schemes.
Provide management with visibility of material shortages, backlogs, manage WIP variances and other potential schedule conflicts.
Manage warehouse and shipping departments, responsible for outsourcing secondary machining of materials, purchasing MRO supplies and logistics.
Flight line expediter ensures maintenance accomplishment and sortie production by managing, controlling and directing allocate resources and personnel.

Product planner vs production controller skills

Common product planner skills

Product Development, 9%
Product Planning, 7%
Product Line, 7%
Logistics, 5%
MRP, 4%
Product Management, 4%

Common production controller skills

Production Control, 28%
Production Planning, 14%
Logistics, 6%
Control Procedures, 5%
Production Schedules, 3%
MRP, 3%

Product Planner vs. similar jobs

Product Planner related careers

Product Planner related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
Product Planner
Product Planner vs Production Controller

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs