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The differences between contract workers 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 worker and a planner/buyer. Additionally, a contract worker has an average salary of $70,825, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a contract worker include financial statements, SQL and payroll. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Contract Worker | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,825 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $34.05 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 36,853 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A contract worker is an independent contractor who only works at companies for a limited amount of time, according to agreed-upon contract terms. When it comes to employment, a contract worker may find opportunities in different industries, depending upon their set of skills and abilities. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company or industry of employment, it typically includes performing basic tasks, maintaining an active communication line with co-workers, and adhering to company policies and regulations.
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 workers and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Worker | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $70,825 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $95,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a contract worker and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Contract Worker | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between contract workers' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Contract Worker | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 65.8% 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% |