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The differences between materials planners and purchasing agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a materials planner, becoming a purchasing agent takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a materials planner has an average salary of $58,467, which is higher than the $51,950 average annual salary of a purchasing agent.
The top three skills for a materials planner include supply chain, MRP and purchase orders. The most important skills for a purchasing agent are purchase orders, customer service, and logistics.
| Materials Planner | Purchasing Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $58,467 | $51,950 |
| Hourly rate | $28.11 | $24.98 |
| Growth rate | -3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 23,019 | 45,856 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Usually working in a manufacturing setting, a materials planner's role is to manage the supply flow and inventory of materials. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with vendors and other external agencies, processing purchase orders, monitoring the quality of supplies to ensure it is according to the standards, and coordinating with various teams to learn their needs. Furthermore, as a planner, it is essential to devise strategies to resolve any issues, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.
A purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection. Purchasing agents should also be proficient in interpreting and evaluating data, researching on best marketing sources and alternatives, issuing required documentation for suppliers, as well as managing customer queries as needed. Being a purchasing agent requires critical-thinking skills in assessing concerns and providing solutions should there be any possible negotiation conflicts.
Materials planners and purchasing agents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Planner | Purchasing Agent | |
| Average salary | $58,467 | $51,950 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $74,000 | Between $37,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Apple | Abiomed |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a materials planner and a purchasing agent in terms of educational background:
| Materials Planner | Purchasing Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between materials planners' and purchasing agents' demographics:
| Materials Planner | Purchasing Agent | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |