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The differences between business planners and planner/buyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a business planner, becoming a planner/buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a business planner has an average salary of $119,250, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a business planner include data analysis, strong analytical and financial analysis. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Business Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $119,250 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $57.33 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 60,241 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A business planner specializes in developing and implementing business plans and procedures. Their job entails conducting extensive research and analyses to identify key business participants, determine the strengths and weaknesses of existing operations, and find new business opportunities. They also perform risk assessments, address potential operational costs, and identify issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Through their research findings, a business planner develops strategies to optimize operations and prevent significant losses when problems arise, helping the company run smoothly and efficiently.
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.
Business planners and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $119,250 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $85,000 And $166,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Pacific Gas and Electric | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a business planner and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Business Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between business planners' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Business Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.6% 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 | 13% | 7% |