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Project planner vs project analyst

The differences between project planners and project analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a project planner, becoming a project analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a project planner has an average salary of $86,926, which is higher than the $71,174 average annual salary of a project analyst.

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

Project planner vs project analyst overview

Project PlannerProject Analyst
Yearly salary$86,926$71,174
Hourly rate$41.79$34.22
Growth rate-3%11%
Number of jobs56,558207,513
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4544
Years of experience24

What does a project planner do?

A project planner is responsible for determining project management procedures according to business requirements and client specifications. Project planners schedule deliverables of outputs for every milestone to ensure that the team follows the track of guidelines, adhering to the company policies and project plans. They write status reports, conduct cost expenses analysis, and strategize techniques in maximizing the team's productivity and efficiency. A project planner also identifies opportunities to improve project workloads and adjust procedures as necessary to meet the highest goals and objectives.

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.

Project planner vs project analyst salary

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

Project PlannerProject Analyst
Average salary$86,926$71,174
Salary rangeBetween $63,000 And $118,000Between $52,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CityDavis, CAJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyNovo NordiskGoogle
Best paying industryHospitalityManufacturing

Differences between project planner and project analyst education

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

Project PlannerProject Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityNorthwestern University

Project planner vs project analyst demographics

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

Project PlannerProject Analyst
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 65.1% Female, 34.9%Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage11%12%

Differences between project planner and project analyst duties and responsibilities

Project planner example 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.
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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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Project planner vs project analyst skills

Common project planner skills
  • Project Management, 20%
  • Project Planning, 8%
  • Microsoft Project, 4%
  • Project Scope, 4%
  • Primavera P6, 4%
  • Project Controls, 3%
Common project analyst skills
  • Project Management, 22%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Status Reports, 5%
  • SharePoint, 4%
  • PMP, 4%

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