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The differences between supply planners and purchasers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a supply planner and a purchaser. Additionally, a supply planner has an average salary of $70,602, which is higher than the $50,031 average annual salary of a purchaser.
The top three skills for a supply planner include supply chain, logistics and demand planning. The most important skills for a purchaser are purchase orders, FDA, and POS.
| Supply Planner | Purchaser | |
| Yearly salary | $70,602 | $50,031 |
| Hourly rate | $33.94 | $24.05 |
| Growth rate | 28% | - |
| Number of jobs | 39,798 | 6,852 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A supply planner is primarily in charge of maintaining a company's inventory of supplies, ensuring all are sufficient and efficient. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring and counting the inventory, maintaining accurate records, reviewing receipts and other documentation, anticipating product demands, and liaising with vendors and suppliers. Should there be any supply emergencies or issues, one must visit manufacturers or suppliers. There may also be instances where one has to lift products and propose changes in the inventory processes.
A Purchaser is responsible for buying goods and services from distribution centers to sell to customers or other companies. They conduct data analysis and research current market trends to identify public demands and generate resources that would increase the company's revenues and profitability. They also ensure the adequacy of supply inventories for deliveries, respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, and recommend products according to their needs and budget requirements. A Purchaser must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in documenting purchase transactions and negotiating contracts with suppliers and vendors.
Supply planners and purchasers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Planner | Purchaser | |
| Average salary | $70,602 | $50,031 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $101,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | Barnes Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a supply planner and a purchaser in terms of educational background:
| Supply Planner | Purchaser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between supply planners' and purchasers' demographics:
| Supply Planner | Purchaser | |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.2% Female, 47.8% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |