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The differences between acquisition specialists and senior 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 senior buyer. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, 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 senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Acquisition Specialist | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $65,906 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $31.69 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 17,543 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
The job of senior buyers, or also known as purchasing agents, is to meet the material needs of an organization. They are responsible for finding suppliers, arranging the distribution to several retail outlets, and supervising other purchasing agents. They also look for new product streams and establish procurement strategies. Senior buyers typically begin their careers as assistant buyers or junior purchasing agents. Most employers usually prefer those with college degrees in marketing, business, and economics.
Acquisition specialists and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acquisition Specialist | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $65,906 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $99,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an acquisition specialist and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Acquisition Specialist | Senior Buyer | |
| 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 senior buyers' demographics:
| Acquisition Specialist | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| 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, 12.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |