Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between acquisition specialists and human resources generalists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an acquisition specialist and a human resources generalist. Additionally, an acquisition specialist has an average salary of $65,906, which is higher than the $56,159 average annual salary of a human resources generalist.
The top three skills for an acquisition specialist include program management, market research and DOD. The most important skills for a human resources generalist are HRIS, performance management, and customer service.
| Acquisition Specialist | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,906 | $56,159 |
| Hourly rate | $31.69 | $27.00 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 17,543 | 44,365 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An acquisition specialist is in charge of developing strategies to acquire goods and services on behalf of a company. Their responsibilities include coordinating with different departments to gather data, conducting extensive research and analysis to find cost-efficient materials and resources, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, negotiating contracts, and arranging payment plans. Furthermore, an acquisition specialist may also participate in a company's employment procedures and recruit potential employees in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
A human resources generalist is responsible for monitoring the human resources policies and procedures, making adjustments as needed to align with the company's goals and objectives. Duties of a human resources generalist also include improving employee relations system, organizing compliance and knowledge training, reviewing benefit plans, managing compensation inquiries, assisting in recruitment and staffing needs, communicating with department heads in employees' performance reviews, and storing employees' files for reference. A human resource generalist must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to address issues concerning the company and employees' welfare.
Acquisition specialists and human resources generalists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acquisition Specialist | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Average salary | $65,906 | $56,159 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $99,000 | Between $41,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an acquisition specialist and a human resources generalist in terms of educational background:
| Acquisition Specialist | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between acquisition specialists' and human resources generalists' demographics:
| Acquisition Specialist | Human Resources Generalist | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 20.5% Female, 79.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |