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The differences between planner/buyers and materials planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a planner/buyer, becoming a materials planner takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a materials planner has an average salary of $58,467, 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 materials planner are supply chain, MRP, and purchase orders.
| Planner/Buyer | Materials Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $54,261 | $58,467 |
| Hourly rate | $26.09 | $28.11 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 33,452 | 23,019 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
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.
Planner/buyers and materials planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Planner/Buyer | Materials Planner | |
| Average salary | $54,261 | $58,467 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $77,000 | Between $45,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Billerica, MA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Edwards Lifesciences | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a planner/buyer and a materials planner in terms of educational background:
| Planner/Buyer | Materials Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between planner/buyers' and materials planners' demographics:
| Planner/Buyer | Materials Planner | |
| Average age | 48 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| 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, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 11% |