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What is a planner/buyer and how to become one
Planners/buyers are responsible for managing a company's inventory and purchasing goods to meet customer demand. They analyze sales data and market trends to make purchasing decisions, negotiate with suppliers, and ensure timely delivery of goods. They must also maintain relationships with vendors and manage budgets to maximize profits. These roles are critical to ensuring that a company has the right products at the right time to meet customer needs.
Avg. Salary $54,261
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate -3%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%
Asian 7.86%
Black or African American 9.11%
Hispanic or Latino 12.48%
Unknown 4.41%
White 65.37%
Genderfemale 52.11%
male 47.89%
Age - 49American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 49Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a Planner/Buyer?
Pros
Opportunity to work with a variety of brands and products
Chance to make a tangible impact on the success of a business
Ability to develop analytical and strategic thinking skills
Potential for travel and networking opportunities
Creative problem-solving is an integral part of the role
Cons
Continuous pressure to meet sales targets and volume goals
Limited flexibility due to the need to adhere to strict budgets and timelines
High level of accountability for results and performance metrics
Can be challenging to juggle competing demands from multiple stakeholders
Decision-making can be complex and require a significant amount of data analysis.
Planner/Buyer career paths
Key steps to become a planner/buyer
Explore planner/buyer education requirements
Start to develop specific planner/buyer skills
Skills 
Percentages Supply Chain 14.28% Purchase Orders 13.80% Customer Service 6.73% MRP 6.10% ERP 3.18% Complete relevant planner/buyer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New planner/buyers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a planner/buyer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real planner/buyer resumes.Research planner/buyer duties and 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.
Prepare your planner/buyer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your planner/buyer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a planner/buyer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Planner/Buyer Resume templates
Build a professional Planner/Buyer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Planner/Buyer resume.
Apply for planner/buyer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a planner/buyer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Planner/Buyer Job
Are you a Planner/Buyer?
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Average planner/buyer salary
The average Planner/Buyer salary in the United States is $54,261 per year or $26 per hour. Planner/buyer salaries range between $37,000 and $77,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do planner/buyers rate their job?
Planner/Buyer reviews
its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.
KEEPING THE INVENTORY AND COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE
To be involved in negotiations
I like all in this job, because I have the choise to be in relation with a lot of persons and know what they are doing against purchasing also what the use to buy and under what coondition
Updated January 8, 2025
