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The differences between planner/buyers and purchasers 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 purchaser. Additionally, a planner/buyer has an average salary of $54,261, which is higher than the $50,031 average annual salary of a purchaser.
The top three skills for a planner/buyer include supply chain, purchase orders and customer service. The most important skills for a purchaser are purchase orders, FDA, and POS.
| Planner/Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Yearly salary | $54,261 | $50,031 |
| Hourly rate | $26.09 | $24.05 |
| Growth rate | -3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 33,452 | 6,852 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| 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 Purchaser is responsible for buying goods and services from distribution centers to sell to customers or other companies. They conduct data analysis and research current market trends to identify public demands and generate resources that would increase the company's revenues and profitability. They also ensure the adequacy of supply inventories for deliveries, respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, and recommend products according to their needs and budget requirements. A Purchaser must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in documenting purchase transactions and negotiating contracts with suppliers and vendors.
Planner/buyers and purchasers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Planner/Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Average salary | $54,261 | $50,031 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $77,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Billerica, MA | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Edwards Lifesciences | Barnes Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a planner/buyer and a purchaser in terms of educational background:
| Planner/Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between planner/buyers' and purchasers' demographics:
| Planner/Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |