Senior production planner vs planner/buyer

The differences between senior production planners and planner/buyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior production planner, becoming a planner/buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior production planner has an average salary of $81,198, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.

The top three skills for a senior production planner include production planning, ERP and logistics. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.

Senior production planner vs planner/buyer overview

	Senior Production Planner	Planner/Buyer
Yearly salary	$81,198	$54,261
Hourly rate	$39.04	$26.09
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	67,432	33,452
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age	45	48
Years of experience	2	6

What does a senior production planner do?

Senior production planners decide on items to be manufactured and their quantities based on carefully researched consumer demand forecasts. The production planners analyze data to revise staff schedules to reach the agreed quota in the manufacturing process. They find solutions for internal material concerns like quality checking and transfer issues. Also, they make sure that the products at the end of the manufacturing phase pass their quality standards.

What does a planner/buyer do?

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 production planner vs planner/buyer salary

Senior production planners and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior Production Planner	Planner/Buyer
Average salary	$81,198	$54,261
Salary range	Between $64,000 And $102,000	Between $37,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	Fremont, CA	Billerica, MA
Highest paying state	Idaho	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Intuitive Surgical	Edwards Lifesciences
Best paying industry	Health Care	Technology

Differences between senior production planner and planner/buyer education

There are a few differences between a senior production planner and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:

	Senior Production Planner	Planner/Buyer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	University of Pennsylvania

Senior production planner vs planner/buyer demographics

Here are the differences between senior production planners' and planner/buyers' demographics:

	Senior Production Planner	Planner/Buyer
Average age	45	48
Gender ratio	Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1%	Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 7.2% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	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	11%	7%

Differences between senior production planner and planner/buyer duties and responsibilities

Senior production planner example responsibilities.

Manage forecast product as required by customer needs, including VMI and KANBAN programs.
Manage cost effective inventory levels for purchase & manufacture assemblies through ERP maintenance of WIP, safety stock & lead-time settings.
Set up reverse logistics supply chain to manage customer returns enabling timely replacement or repair to customers satisfying contractual agreements.
Manage customer requirements including factory schedules/production, planning and order integrity by directing manufacturing and logistics to optimize supply chain availability.
Reconcile inventory and make sure the allocated inventory is flushed out against work orders in process (WIP).
Perform key tasks, including BOM accuracy and shipment of materials that enable successful transfer of tools to volume manufacturing.

Planner/buyer example responsibilities.

Manage assign commodities by communicating MRP changes to the suppliers, minimizing obsolete inventory while achieving the optimum inventory levels.
Manage monthly and year end physical inventory audits of all raw materials, WIP, and finish goods.
Manage inventory pipelines from NPI to manufacturing and/or offshore contract manufacturers.
Utilize company ERP system for inventory management and schedule optimization.
Plan and coordinate all material requirements of assign commodities and supplier availability utilizing the MRP system.
Synchronize with packers and freight forwarders to arrange and prepare documentation shipment export.

Senior production planner vs planner/buyer skills

Common senior production planner skills

Production Planning, 5%
ERP, 5%
Logistics, 4%
Lean Manufacturing, 4%
Capacity Constraints, 4%
Purchase Orders, 4%

Common planner/buyer skills

Supply Chain, 14%
Purchase Orders, 14%
Customer Service, 7%
MRP, 6%
ERP, 3%
Logistics, 3%

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Senior Production Planner vs Planner/Buyer

Updated January 8, 2025

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