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Project planner vs project coordinator

The differences between project planners and project coordinators 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 coordinator takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a project planner has an average salary of $86,926, which is higher than the $50,375 average annual salary of a project coordinator.

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

Project planner vs project coordinator overview

Project PlannerProject Coordinator
Yearly salary$86,926$50,375
Hourly rate$41.79$24.22
Growth rate-3%-8%
Number of jobs56,55838,743
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4547
Years of experience26

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 coordinator do?

Project coordinators act as the liaising body between different departments involved in a specific project. They are members of the group assigned to work together for special projects or undertakings that will benefit the organization. Project coordinators join meetings of the special committee, from planning to evaluation. They take notes and jot down action plans. They ensure that the committee members assigned to do specific tasks are doing so. They also guarantee project success by ensuring that the people involved in the project are working well together.

Project planner vs project coordinator salary

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

Project PlannerProject Coordinator
Average salary$86,926$50,375
Salary rangeBetween $63,000 And $118,000Between $33,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityDavis, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyNovo NordiskMeta
Best paying industryHospitalityFinance

Differences between project planner and project coordinator education

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

Project PlannerProject Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityCalifornia State University - Bakersfield

Project planner vs project coordinator demographics

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

Project PlannerProject Coordinator
Average age4547
Gender ratioMale, 65.1% Female, 34.9%Male, 37.7% Female, 62.3%
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, 9.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage11%8%

Differences between project planner and project coordinator 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.
  • Show more

Project coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Create and lead Smartsheet training for team members.
  • Manage timely delivery of regular deliverables to the CIO.
  • Project manages all aspects of office redesign to include; new furniture, layout, logistics, and telephony requirements.
  • Manage FTP site for all projects and coordinate with all consultants and clients to help upload and download auto cad drawings.
  • Manage Minnesota Medicaid billing and patient eligibility from admission and renewals.
  • Manage the PMO Intranet site and develop related standard operating procedure documents.
  • Show more

Project planner vs project coordinator 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 coordinator skills
  • Project Management, 15%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Purchase Orders, 5%
  • Project Coordination, 5%

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