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The differences between planner/buyers and purchasing buyers 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 purchasing buyer. Additionally, a planner/buyer has an average salary of $54,261, which is higher than the $47,471 average annual salary of a purchasing buyer.
The top three skills for a planner/buyer include supply chain, purchase orders and customer service. The most important skills for a purchasing buyer are purchase orders, logistics, and cost savings.
| Planner/Buyer | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $54,261 | $47,471 |
| Hourly rate | $26.09 | $22.82 |
| Growth rate | -3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 33,452 | 21,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| 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.
In a retail setting, a purchasing buyer is primarily responsible for devising strategies for procuring supplies, ensuring that it aligns with the company's needs and standards. They are also responsible for conducting thorough marketing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather and process documentation, liaising and negotiating with vendors and suppliers, and keeping track of all purchasing orders to ensure accuracy and timeliness. Furthermore, as a purchasing buyer, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions and submit regular reports to supervisors.
Planner/buyers and purchasing buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Planner/Buyer | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Average salary | $54,261 | $47,471 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $77,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Billerica, MA | Goleta, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Edwards Lifesciences | Aramco Services Company |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a planner/buyer and a purchasing buyer in terms of educational background:
| Planner/Buyer | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between planner/buyers' and purchasing buyers' demographics:
| Planner/Buyer | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% | Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1% |
| 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, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |