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The differences between manufacturing 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 manufacturing planner, becoming a planner/buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manufacturing planner has an average salary of $65,109, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing planner include BOM, shop floor and engineering drawings. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Manufacturing Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,109 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $31.30 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 46,577 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
It is the responsibility of a manufacturing planner to keep track of the production schedule. The duties of manufacturing planners involve the development of a master schedule with management consultation. They oversee the workflow of the production hub or facility. Their job includes the coordination of the production of one or more products. They ensure the promptness and accuracy of the production process. Also, they plan and prioritize the overall process for efficiency.
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.
Manufacturing planners and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $65,109 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $89,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Micron Technology | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing planner and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between manufacturing planners' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 7.2% White, 61.2% 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% |