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The differences between senior 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 senior buyer and a planner/buyer. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a senior buyer include supply chain, purchase orders and MRP. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Senior Buyer | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,848 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $38.39 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | - | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 27,412 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The job of senior buyers, or also known as purchasing agents, is to meet the material needs of an organization. They are responsible for finding suppliers, arranging the distribution to several retail outlets, and supervising other purchasing agents. They also look for new product streams and establish procurement strategies. Senior buyers typically begin their careers as assistant buyers or junior purchasing agents. Most employers usually prefer those with college degrees in marketing, business, and economics.
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.
Senior buyers and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Buyer | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $79,848 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $112,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Capgemini | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior buyer and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Buyer | Planner/Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior buyers' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Senior Buyer | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% 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% |