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The differences between supply planners and senior 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 supply planner and a senior buyer. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $70,602 average annual salary of a supply planner.
The top three skills for a supply planner include supply chain, logistics and demand planning. The most important skills for a senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Supply Planner | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,602 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $33.94 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | 28% | - |
| Number of jobs | 39,798 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
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.
Supply planners and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Planner | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $70,602 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $101,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Meta | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a supply planner and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Supply Planner | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between supply planners' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Supply Planner | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.2% Female, 47.8% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| 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, 12.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |