How to hire a project planner

How to hire a project planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step project planner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a project planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new project planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a project planner do?

Post a project planner job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your project planner job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a project planner for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a project planner to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a project planner that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of project planner salaries for various roles:

   Type of Project Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Project Planner	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$30-56
   Expeditor	The role of expeditors is to ensure the timely and efficient preparation and delivery of food. To accomplish this task, they also perform other duties, including managing inventory levels, managing supply requisition, and coordinating with subcontractors... Show more	$13-25
   Material Coordinator	A material coordinator is in charge of processing requisitions and ensuring that all departments receive necessary goods and materials within a company. Aside from this, they must maintain positive engagements with vendors, suppliers, and business partners, negotiate contracts, manage schedules of deliveries, and prioritize cost-efficient goods... Show more	$14-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Project Planning
   • Microsoft Project
   • Project Scope
   • Primavera P6
   • Project Controls
   • Work Breakdown Structure
   • Project Cost
   • WBS
   • Status Reports
   • Management System
   • Construction Projects
   • Master Schedule
   • Critical Path

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize SharePoint and manage content to display and capture progress report information.
   • Manage logistics of all facets of the transition from housing, moving, inter-service agreements and education.
   • Manage event day logistics, including staging, set-up and strike; adherence to event schedule, and guest hospitality.
   • Follow EPC projects from the engineering office to the construction site to manage the execution and performance of the construction effort.
   • Manage retrofit projects for progressive stamping equipment.
   • Experience with CMMS (maximo), including writing job plans and pm's.

   More project planner duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your project planner job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A project planner can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, project planners' average salary in wyoming is 49% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level project planners 47% less than senior-level project planners.
   • Certifications. A project planner with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a project planner's salary.

   Average project planner salary

   $86,926yearly

   $41.79 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level project planner salary

   $63,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average project planner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$116,075	$56
   2	Oregon	$101,731	$49
   3	Texas	$101,546	$49
   4	Virginia	$90,718	$44
   5	Massachusetts	$89,789	$43
   6	Arizona	$88,899	$43
   7	Washington	$88,077	$42
   8	Minnesota	$86,161	$41
   9	New Jersey	$85,045	$41
   10	Michigan	$84,524	$41
   11	Georgia	$82,835	$40
   12	Tennessee	$80,961	$39
   13	Illinois	$80,732	$39
   14	Connecticut	$80,519	$39
   15	Colorado	$80,484	$39
   16	Nevada	$76,649	$37
   17	North Carolina	$76,028	$37
   18	New York	$73,208	$35
   19	Florida	$72,483	$35
   20	Pennsylvania	$68,588	$33

   Average project planner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Novo Nordisk	$113,347	$54.49
   2	AbbVie	$111,261	$53.49	5
   3	The Walt Disney Company	$100,107	$48.13	18
   4	Bayer	$99,730	$47.95
   5	Arkema	$97,155	$46.71
   6	TechnipFMC	$97,045	$46.66	3
   7	San Diego Gas & Electric	$93,536	$44.97
   8	Woods Services	$93,305	$44.86
   9	Stryker	$92,134	$44.30	2
   10	Hargrove Engineers + Constructors	$91,989	$44.23	15
   11	General Atomics	$91,266	$43.88	37
   12	ERM	$90,529	$43.52	4
   13	VHB	$90,525	$43.52	6
   14	Colliers Engineering & Design	$89,662	$43.11
   15	Viasat	$89,342	$42.95
   16	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	$89,202	$42.89	28
   17	Enel X	$89,026	$42.80
   18	Randstad North America, Inc.	$89,007	$42.79	8
   19	Regeneron	$88,781	$42.68
   20	Pfizer	$88,682	$42.64	1

4. Writing a project planner job description

   A job description for a project planner role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a project planner job description:

   Project planner job description example

   The Information Technology (IT) Facility Planning Specialist is responsible for the planning and delivery of IT systems and infrastructure required to support building projects (including new facilities, major renovations, tenant improvements and minor reconfigurations). This role will coordinate and facilitate the evaluation and recommendation of IT systems and technology (within the constraints of scope, quality, time, and cost) to deliver the specified requirements and meet customer expectations.
   
   The IT Facility Planning Specialist will be responsible for ensuring that the identified technology and systems are in alignment with organizational standards, making recommendations for new or re-use of equipment, making sure design documents reflect the required equipment and corresponding infrastructure needs, and the planning for and facilitation of the IT project procurement (in coordination with Supply Chain and preferred vendors). This role ensures the planning process meets clinical, operational, security and project objectives.
   This position's work location is hybrid (on site or remote as needed). Responsibilities Technical Coordination
   * Facilitates effective communication between end users, key stakeholders and design professionals in building design meetings. * Develops and maintains equipment budgets throughout the project lifecycle. * Provides follow-up responses to engineers, architects and constractors regarding NAH Information Technology standards and requirements. * Collaborates with engineers, architects, consultants and the NAH Information Technology Department to develop comprehensive IT systems lists as well as integration and deployment plans. * Reviews construction drawings for accuracy and completeness with regard to IT equipment placement and infrastructure needs. * Works collaboratively with NAH Information Technology to ensure equipment standardization across the system and that all costs are minimized and contracted appropriately. * Manages procurement, receiving and placement of information technology infrastructure and equipment for Development & Construction projects. Ensures alignment to NAH standards for all IT equipment and procurement procedures.
   Documentation Control and Management
   * Assists with execution of the organization's processes for evaluating vendors, as well as selecting and documenting equipment standards. * Solicits vendor required submittals, drawings and specifications. * Ensures procurement of IT equipment is within health system standards.
   Communication
   * Actively develop relationships, working collaboratively with cross-functional groups of internal and external team members. * Collaborate with department leaders on any implementation and evaluation of new/alternative technology solutions or requirements. * Prepare, distribute, and present technical reports/presentations.
   Compliance/Safety
   * Responsible for reporting any safety-related incident in a timely fashion through the Midas/RDE tool; attends all safety-related training programs; performs work in a safe manner; monitors work environment and job site for possible safety issues and ensures others are also performing work in a safe manner. * Stays current and complies with state and federal regulations/statutes and company policies that impact the employee's area of responsibility. * If required for the position, ensures all certifications and/or licenses are up-to-date and valid prior to expiration dates. * Completes all company mandatory modules and required job-specific training in the specified time frame. Qualifications Education Bachelors Degree in related field or equivalent of 8 years of directly related work experience - Required
   
   Master's Degree in related field or equivalent of 11 years of directly related work experience - Preferred Certificates and Licensure Lean, Six Sigma or ASQ Certification - Preferred Experience Minimum of 5 years of experience in progressive IT equipment planning, including a direct knowledge of or background in construction projects - Required
   
   Large scale project experience - Required
   
   Minimum of 5 years of IT project management experience - Preferred
   
   Experience or knowledge of data center, IT closet and low voltage design - Preferred
   
   Experience with software packages to create and generate reports and spreadsheets, as well as build and track large-scale project plans - Required
   
   Experience in reviewing design and construction documents-Preferred
   
   Experience or knowledge with healthcare systems/software integration - Preferred
   
   Healthcare is a rapidly changing environment and technology is integrated into almost all aspects of patient care. Computers and other electronic devices are utilized across the organization and throughout each department. Colleagues must have an understanding of computers, and competence in using computers and basic software programs.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right project planner for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your project planner job on Zippia to find and recruit project planner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with project planner candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new project planner

   Once you've selected the best project planner candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new project planner first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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