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The differences between acquisition specialists and planner/buyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an acquisition specialist and a planner/buyer. Additionally, an acquisition specialist has an average salary of $65,906, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for an acquisition specialist include program management, market research and DOD. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Acquisition Specialist | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,906 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $31.69 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | 9% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 17,543 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An acquisition specialist is in charge of developing strategies to acquire goods and services on behalf of a company. Their responsibilities include coordinating with different departments to gather data, conducting extensive research and analysis to find cost-efficient materials and resources, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, negotiating contracts, and arranging payment plans. Furthermore, an acquisition specialist may also participate in a company's employment procedures and recruit potential employees in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
The role of buyers/planners is to ensure that office materials and equipment are well-supplied within their organization. They decide and purchase the materials needed for use or resale by their organization. They are responsible for evaluating prospective suppliers based on their cost, product quality, and delivery times. They are also the ones who negotiate contracts specifying the payment terms, price, and delivery schedules. Most employers prefer their buyer to have earned a bachelor's degree with a major in operations management or business management.
Acquisition specialists and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acquisition Specialist | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $65,906 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $99,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an acquisition specialist and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Acquisition Specialist | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between acquisition specialists' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Acquisition Specialist | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.9% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |