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The differences between acquisition specialists and purchasing supervisors 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 supervisor. Additionally, a purchasing supervisor has an average salary of $68,702, 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 purchasing supervisor are purchase orders, MRP, and supplier performance.
| Acquisition Specialist | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $65,906 | $68,702 |
| Hourly rate | $31.69 | $33.03 |
| Growth rate | 9% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 17,543 | 19,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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 purchasing supervisor orders supplies, equipment, and materials from vendors by buyers. The purchasing supervisors assess, select, and build relationships with the vendors. They do the negotiation for the contracts of goods and services. It is their job to review the purchase orders for accuracy and ensure to obtain the best prices. The skills supervisors need to develop include marketing, communication, leadership, and management. They should also know about purchasing products and services.
Acquisition specialists and purchasing supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acquisition Specialist | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $65,906 | $68,702 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $99,000 | Between $45,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | CDW |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an acquisition specialist and a purchasing supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Acquisition Specialist | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between acquisition specialists' and purchasing supervisors' demographics:
| Acquisition Specialist | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |