Supply Planners: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of supply planners about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for supply planners to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of supply planners expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for supply planners.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Supply Planners?
Do supply planners need a degree? What kind of experience do supply planners typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for supply planners to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Supply Planners
Jobs Postings for Supply Planners By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 75,394 (44%)
- No Education Listed: 40,927 (24%)
- High School or GED: 38,902 (23%)
- Master's degree: 12,866 (8%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,525 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of supply planners. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 24% of job listings no education level was listed and in 23% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Supply Planners
Jobs Postings for Supply Planners By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 19,608 (22%)
- 2-3 Years: 38,795 (43%)
- 4-6 Years: 22,045 (24%)
- 7-9 Years: 5,026 (6%)
- 10+ Years: 4,662 (5%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for supply planners. In 43% of job postings for Supply Planners, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 24% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 22% of job postings for supply planners.
What Kind of Degree Do Supply Planners Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for supply planners, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 6 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective supply planners, and in 2023 a total of 22,451 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective supply planners.
Top Degree Programs for Supply Planners
Top 5 Degree Programs for Supply Planners (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. | 10,419 |
| Operations Management and Supervision. | 5,855 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management. | 1,102 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management. | 591 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. | 10,419 |
| Operations Management and Supervision. | 5,855 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management. | 1,102 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management. | 591 |
| Parts, Warehousing, and Inventory Management Operations. | 185 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Supply Planners
Build on your associate's degree and improve efficiency by designing and developing effective supply chains.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Improve product workflow, streamline operational efficiency, and “green” your business in today’s global business environment.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Supply Planners Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by supply planners to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for supply planners, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Supply Planners
Based on 152,047 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Supply Planners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 54,488 | 36% |
| Logistics | 29,138 | 19% |
| Purchasing | 28,755 | 19% |
| Inventory Management | 28,246 | 19% |
| Warehousing | 26,313 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Supply Planners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 65,646 | 43% |
| Management | 52,239 | 34% |
| Operations | 51,963 | 34% |
| Planning | 49,617 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 46,613 | 31% |
Based on 152,047 job postings related to supply planners, supply chain was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 36% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for logistics, purchasing, inventory management, warehousing and procurement were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for supply planners, followed by management, operations, planning, customer service and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 54,488 | 36% |
| Logistics | 29,138 | 19% |
| Purchasing | 28,755 | 19% |
| Inventory Management | 28,246 | 19% |
| Warehousing | 26,313 | 17% |
| Procurement | 24,473 | 16% |
| SAP Applications | 22,087 | 15% |
| Supply Chain Management | 20,430 | 13% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 20,213 | 13% |
| Project Management | 17,221 | 11% |
| Marketing | 14,332 | 9% |
| Finance | 13,879 | 9% |
| Process Improvement | 13,663 | 9% |
| Auditing | 13,573 | 9% |
| Material Requirements Planning | 13,494 | 9% |
| Supply Chain Planning | 13,161 | 9% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 13,106 | 9% |
| Data Analysis | 12,891 | 8% |
| Invoicing | 12,662 | 8% |
| Inventory Control | 12,499 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 65,646 | 43% |
| Management | 52,239 | 34% |
| Operations | 51,963 | 34% |
| Planning | 49,617 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 46,613 | 31% |
| Microsoft Excel | 41,948 | 28% |
| Problem Solving | 37,065 | 24% |
| Detail Oriented | 36,254 | 24% |
| Sales | 35,156 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 32,092 | 21% |
| Scheduling | 25,928 | 17% |
| Leadership | 25,286 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 24,445 | 16% |
| Forecasting | 19,981 | 13% |
| Writing | 19,976 | 13% |
| Computer Literacy | 19,669 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 18,859 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 18,168 | 12% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 17,668 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 16,625 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about supply planners? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for supply planners.
What do supply planners do?
How much do supply planners make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.