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The differences between procurement buyers and planner/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 procurement buyer and a planner/buyer. Additionally, a procurement buyer has an average salary of $61,874, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a procurement buyer include purchase orders, supplier performance and logistics. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Procurement Buyer | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,874 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $29.75 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | - | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 16,674 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Procurement Buyers oversee the requisition of goods and services for the company. They receive purchase requisitions from employees or departments and contact possible vendors that can supply the items. They compare the price quotations of these vendors and choose the most cost-efficient option. Upon choosing, procurement buyers notify the vendor and proceed with the request. Procurement buyers are responsible for the receipt of goods from the suppliers. They check the deliveries and ensure that all orders are complete and in good condition. They also handle the receipts and consolidate these for processing of payment.
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.
Procurement buyers and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Buyer | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $61,874 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $87,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stockton, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Invesco | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a procurement buyer and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Buyer | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement buyers' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Procurement Buyer | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |