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The differences between planner/buyers and material analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a planner/buyer and a material analyst. Additionally, a material analyst has an average salary of $66,092, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a planner/buyer include supply chain, purchase orders and customer service. The most important skills for a material analyst are supply chain, logistics, and MRP.
| Planner/Buyer | Material Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $54,261 | $66,092 |
| Hourly rate | $26.09 | $31.77 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 33,452 | 48,758 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A materials analyst is responsible for managing the assets and materials of an organization, ensuring the adequacy of office inventories to support business operational functions. Materials analysts identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. They handle the distribution of goods and order processes according to the company's supply chain management. A materials analyst must have excellent organizational and analytical skills, especially in conducting data and statistical analysis to obtain high-quality materials that would meet the customers' demands.
Planner/buyers and material analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Planner/Buyer | Material Analyst | |
| Average salary | $54,261 | $66,092 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $77,000 | Between $49,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Billerica, MA | Union City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Edwards Lifesciences | Micron Technology |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a planner/buyer and a material analyst in terms of educational background:
| Planner/Buyer | Material Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between planner/buyers' and material analysts' demographics:
| Planner/Buyer | Material Analyst | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% | Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |