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The differences between acquisition specialists and purchasing buyers 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 purchasing buyer. Additionally, an acquisition specialist has an average salary of $65,906, which is higher than the $47,471 average annual salary of a purchasing buyer.
The top three skills for an acquisition specialist include program management, market research and DOD. The most important skills for a purchasing buyer are purchase orders, logistics, and cost savings.
| Acquisition Specialist | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,906 | $47,471 |
| Hourly rate | $31.69 | $22.82 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 17,543 | 21,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| 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.
In a retail setting, a purchasing buyer is primarily responsible for devising strategies for procuring supplies, ensuring that it aligns with the company's needs and standards. They are also responsible for conducting thorough marketing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather and process documentation, liaising and negotiating with vendors and suppliers, and keeping track of all purchasing orders to ensure accuracy and timeliness. Furthermore, as a purchasing buyer, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions and submit regular reports to supervisors.
Acquisition specialists and purchasing buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acquisition Specialist | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Average salary | $65,906 | $47,471 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $99,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Goleta, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Aramco Services Company |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an acquisition specialist and a purchasing buyer in terms of educational background:
| Acquisition Specialist | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between acquisition specialists' and purchasing buyers' demographics:
| Acquisition Specialist | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |