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The differences between planner/buyers and supply chain 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 supply chain analyst. Additionally, a supply chain analyst has an average salary of $67,450, 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 supply chain analyst are supply chain, logistics, and customer service.
| Planner/Buyer | Supply Chain Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $54,261 | $67,450 |
| Hourly rate | $26.09 | $32.43 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 33,452 | 37,979 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| 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 supply chain analyst is responsible for handling the supply chain operations of an organization, aligning processes, and identifying areas of improvement to initiate procedures and create smooth supply delivery transactions. Supply chain analysts monitor the adequacy of stock inventory, including the trends in the market industry, to meet the public demands and ensuring that the business provides those interests. They also evaluate the supply cycle, from the planning stages to the final distribution, and analyzing aspects to minimize complexities and cost-reduction without compromising the quality of services.
Planner/buyers and supply chain analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Planner/Buyer | Supply Chain Analyst | |
| Average salary | $54,261 | $67,450 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $77,000 | Between $50,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | Billerica, MA | Arlington, VA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Edwards Lifesciences | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a planner/buyer and a supply chain analyst in terms of educational background:
| Planner/Buyer | Supply Chain Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between planner/buyers' and supply chain analysts' demographics:
| Planner/Buyer | Supply Chain Analyst | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 11.4% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |