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The differences between contract administrator/contract 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 a contract administrator/contract specialist and a planner/buyer. Additionally, a planner/buyer has an average salary of $54,261, which is higher than the $53,425 average annual salary of a contract administrator/contract specialist.
The top three skills for a contract administrator/contract specialist include contract management, purchase orders and contract terms. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $53,425 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $25.69 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | 9% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 61,764 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Contract Administrator and Contract Specialist reviews all contracts of the company. They are responsible for reviewing every contract if it is for the company's benefit and if there are hidden risks. This person also helps draft future contracts and inspects new contracts during deals and negotiations. Contract Specialists update existing contracts, propose amendments if necessary, and advise the company on contracts that have risks that may affect the activities of the company.
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.
Contract administrator/contract specialists and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $53,425 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $79,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Annapolis, MD | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a contract administrator/contract specialist and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between contract administrator/contract specialists' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Contract Administrator/Contract Specialist | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% 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% |