Distribution Planner Salary in the United States

How much does a Distribution Planner make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Distribution Planner in the United States is $91,225 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, a Distribution Planner's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $110,369
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $81,881 to $101,246
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $73,373

Key Factors That Influence Distribution Planner Salaries

A Distribution Planner's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Distribution Planner Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Distribution Planner's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $58,684
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $71,870
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $90,489
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,939
  • Expert (over 8 years): $133,720
Levels Salary
Logistics... Level Distribution Planner$58,684
Logistics... Level Distribution Planner$71,870
Distribut... Level Distribution Planner$90,489
Logistics... Level Distribution Planner$113,939
Logistics... Level Distribution Planner$133,720

Top Paying Cities for Distribution Planners

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $115,063
  • San Francisco: $113,803
  • Oakland: $111,404

What Skills Can Increase a Distribution Planner's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.78% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Supply Chain Management (Mentioned in 1.39% Job Postings): In commerce, supply-chain management (SCM), the management of the flow of goods and services, involves the movement and storage of raw materials, of work-in-process inventory, and of finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption. Interconnected or interlinked networks, channels and node businesses combine in the provision of products and services required by end customers in a supply chain. Supply-chain management has been defined as the "design, planning, execution, control, and monitoring of supply-chain activities with the objective of creating net value, building a competitive infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, synchronizing supply with demand and measuring performance globally." SCM practice draws heavily from the areas of industrial engineering, systems engineering, operations management, logistics, procurement, information technology, and marketing and strives for an integrated approach.[citation needed] Marketing channels play an important role in supply-chain management. Current research in supply-chain management is concerned with topics related to sustainability and risk management, among others. Some suggest that the “people dimension” of SCM, ethical issues, internal integration, transparency/visibility, and human capital/talent management are topics that have, so far, been underrepresented on the research agenda.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 0.85% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.78%
Supply Chain Management 1.39%
Business Administration 0.85%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Distribution Planner's salary.

  • Product Support: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Security Clearance: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Support $98,523
8%
Program Management $98,523
8%
Security Clearance $97,611
7%

Distribution Planner Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Distribution Planner roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Distribution Planner positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Distribution Planner as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Distribution Planner

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$136,838$66.050%

How Education impacts a Distribution Planner's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Distribution Planners enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Distribution Planner with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $88,368 and $93,412).

Distribution Planner Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Distribution Planner
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 10.7%
Associates 10.2%
Bachelors 42.3%
Masters 35.2%
Doctorate 1.0%

Distribution Planner Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Distribution Planner's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$81,881
Average $91,225/year
$101,246
$6,823
Average $7,602/month
$8,437
$1,575
Average $1,754/week
$1,947
$39
Average $44/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $101,246 $8,437 $1,947 $49
Average $91,225 $7,602 $1,754 $44
25th Percentile $81,881 $6,823 $1,575 $39

Most common benefits for Distribution Planner

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Distribution Planner

Here are companies hiring for Distribution Planner and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Distribution Planner

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Distribution Planner?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Distribution Planner roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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