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The differences between supply planners and supply chain specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a supply planner and a supply chain specialist. Additionally, a supply chain specialist has an average salary of $71,414, which is higher than the $70,602 average annual salary of a supply planner.
The top three skills for a supply planner include supply chain, logistics and demand planning. The most important skills for a supply chain specialist are supply chain, logistics, and chain management.
| Supply Planner | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $70,602 | $71,414 |
| Hourly rate | $33.94 | $34.33 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 39,798 | 25,129 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A supply planner is primarily in charge of maintaining a company's inventory of supplies, ensuring all are sufficient and efficient. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring and counting the inventory, maintaining accurate records, reviewing receipts and other documentation, anticipating product demands, and liaising with vendors and suppliers. Should there be any supply emergencies or issues, one must visit manufacturers or suppliers. There may also be instances where one has to lift products and propose changes in the inventory processes.
It is the responsibility of the supply chain specialist to procure materials to manufacture and ship products. The supply chain specialist determines and orders the proper quantities and negotiates pricing and their shipment terms. They oversee the delivery of necessary materials for the fulfillment of orders made by customers. The specialists need to develop strong skills in project management, business ethics, problem-solving, understanding of financial statements, communication skills, and cost accounting skills.
Supply planners and supply chain specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Planner | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Average salary | $70,602 | $71,414 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $101,000 | Between $49,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a supply planner and a supply chain specialist in terms of educational background:
| Supply Planner | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between supply planners' and supply chain specialists' demographics:
| Supply Planner | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.2% Female, 47.8% | Male, 58.6% Female, 41.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |