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The differences between land 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 a land planner, becoming a planner/buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a land planner has an average salary of $64,353, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a land planner include GIS, real estate and regional planning. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Land Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $64,353 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $30.94 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 14,910 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A land use planner is responsible for the planning and development stage of land development. Typically, they interact with a client to decide how to convert the land for commercial or personal use. After creating a plan, they need to ensure the project's safety and efficiency. This career requires someone who has practical communication skills, customer-service skills, and flexibility.
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.
Land planners and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Land Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $64,353 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $89,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Tucson Electric Power | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between a land planner and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Land Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Urban Planning | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between land planners' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Land Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.3% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 13% | 7% |