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The differences between directors of purchasing and planning managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a director of purchasing, becoming a planning manager takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a director of purchasing has an average salary of $106,945, which is higher than the $98,486 average annual salary of a planning manager.
The top three skills for a director of purchasing include supply chain, purchase orders and product development. The most important skills for a planning manager are project management, customer service, and strong analytical.
| Director Of Purchasing | Planning Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $106,945 | $98,486 |
| Hourly rate | $51.42 | $47.35 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 17,847 | 137,190 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 10 |
A director of purchasing oversees the procedures related to buying resources and supplies, directing operations from planning to execution while adhering to standards and company policies. They primarily perform research and assessments to understand project needs in terms of price, quality, and delivery time. They also identify ideal suppliers, negotiate deals, and build positive business relationships. Additionally, a director of purchasing has the authority to make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities among staff, oversee employment procedures within the department, and solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Planning managers perform various duties and responsibilities for an organization. These include planning and monitoring a project or department's budget, production schedule, and inventory, creating reports of new plans, programs, and regulations, and ensuring development proposals comply with requirements and regulations. Additionally, planning managers are expected to serve as an intermediary between developers, government entities, businesses, and communities. They also oversee site plans, rezoning, and special-use permits, set schedules for the project, and supervise other personnel such as developers and consultants.
Directors of purchasing and planning managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Purchasing | Planning Manager | |
| Average salary | $106,945 | $98,486 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $166,000 | Between $71,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Rivian | ZS |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a director of purchasing and a planning manager in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Purchasing | Planning Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between directors of purchasing' and planning managers' demographics:
| Director Of Purchasing | Planning Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9% | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |