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The differences between acquisition specialists and procurement agents 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 procurement agent. Additionally, a procurement agent has an average salary of $72,384, which is higher than the $65,906 average annual salary of an acquisition specialist.
The top three skills for an acquisition specialist include program management, market research and DOD. The most important skills for a procurement agent are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and supplier performance.
| Acquisition Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $65,906 | $72,384 |
| Hourly rate | $31.69 | $34.80 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 17,543 | 45,198 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| 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 procurement agent develops profitable measures to save the client money and ensure the quality of goods supplied. Procurement agents obtain the purchased items through suppliers, monitor them, and expedite the orders. They oversee the activities and performance of the suppliers for compliance. Their duties include the verification of item receipts, resolving shipment-related problems, and authorizing purchase payments through documentation. The necessary skills for this job include being accomplished, decisive, and strong communication skills.
Acquisition specialists and procurement agents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acquisition Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Average salary | $65,906 | $72,384 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $99,000 | Between $49,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Amazon | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an acquisition specialist and a procurement agent in terms of educational background:
| Acquisition Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between acquisition specialists' and procurement agents' demographics:
| Acquisition Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |