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The differences between senior sourcing analysts 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 sourcing analyst and a planner/buyer. Additionally, a senior sourcing analyst has an average salary of $84,801, which is higher than the $54,261 average annual salary of a planner/buyer.
The top three skills for a senior sourcing analyst include DOD, CI and intelligence analysis. The most important skills for a planner/buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Senior Sourcing Analyst | Planner/Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,801 | $54,261 |
| Hourly rate | $40.77 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | 3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 12,504 | 33,452 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A senior sourcing analyst is an individual who oversees the planning and purchasing process for specific commodities and who supports new product launches. He/She or she should be able to establish relationships with suppliers to help in the sourcing process and in the negotiation of deals and contracts to ensure compliance with budgetary requirements. The position requires core skills such as strong analytical, mathematical, and negotiating skills and deep knowledge of the industry the analyst is working in. The education requirements for the job include an associate or bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, marketing, or a related field.
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 sourcing analysts and planner/buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Sourcing Analyst | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average salary | $84,801 | $54,261 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $112,000 | Between $37,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Foster City, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Edwards Lifesciences |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior sourcing analyst and a planner/buyer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Sourcing Analyst | 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 sourcing analysts' and planner/buyers' demographics:
| Senior Sourcing Analyst | Planner/Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.4% 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% |