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The differences between inventory 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 an inventory planner, becoming a planner/buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an inventory planner has an average salary of $65,504, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for an inventory planner include supply chain, purchase orders and logistics. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Inventory Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,504 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $31.49 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 37,034 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
An inventory planner is an individual who is responsible for creating effective inventory plans and strategies to maximize profitability for an organization. Inventory planners are required to produce documents that detail the quantity specifications of the organization's product or equipment. They must maintain their files updated about the inventory by recording them into the organization's databases to avoid possible discrepancies. Inventory planners must also predict future inventory needs and producing plans for buying based on forecasts and sales data.
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.
Inventory planners and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $65,504 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $93,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Entegris | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory planner and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between inventory planners' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Inventory Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 11% | 7% |