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The differences between master 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 master planner, becoming a planner/buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a master planner has an average salary of $80,433, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a master planner include MRP, continuous improvement and program management. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Master Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,433 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $38.67 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 26,869 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A master planner is responsible for creating and implementing inventory and overseeing shipment master schedules. You will develop planning tools to obtain stakeholders' approval, and convey and liaise master production schedule to ensure schedule availability. Additionally, your role will require you to plan the calendar to ensure monthly updates to the master production schedule. You are also responsible for developing, executing, and maintaining the tools and techniques needed to evaluate the effect of proposed changes to the schedule.
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.
Master planners and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Master Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $80,433 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $102,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Huntsman | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a master planner and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Master Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between master planners' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Master Planner | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.9% Female, 35.1% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.6% 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% |