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The differences between contracts administrators 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 contracts administrator and a planner/buyer. Additionally, a planner/buyer has an average salary of $54,261, which is higher than the $52,876 average annual salary of a contracts administrator.
The top three skills for a contracts administrator include contract administration, customer service and contract management. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Contracts Administrator | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,876 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $25.42 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 58,038 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Contract administrators create and manage legal contracts from which the company participates. They ensure that all entities to the contract will accomplish their obligations, as indicated in the contract. They usually work for larger organizations that might be involved with different or highly complex contracts. These organizations spread across a range of industries, including government, construction, and healthcare. Their responsibilities include addressing any conflicts of questions regarding the contract, analyzing the possible risks posed by contracts, and working alongside the legal and procurement teams.
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.
Contracts administrators and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contracts Administrator | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $52,876 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $78,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Ngam Advisors, L.P. | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a contracts administrator and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Contracts Administrator | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between contracts administrators' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Contracts Administrator | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.7% 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% |