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The differences between assistant buyers and senior buyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become an assistant buyer, becoming a senior buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $49,586 average annual salary of an assistant buyer.
The top three skills for an assistant buyer include purchase orders, vendor relations and customer service. The most important skills for a senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Assistant Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,586 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $23.84 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 15,090 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
An assistant buyer participates and assists in the procurement procedures in a retail company. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around selecting products according to company guidelines, handling and organizing purchase orders, and monitoring the budget. An assistant buyer may also have administrative support tasks such as responding to calls and correspondence, preparing paperwork and progress reports, arranging schedules, keeping records of invoices and inventory, and staying updated with trends. Furthermore, an assistant buyer must reach out to new suppliers and engage with vendors to maintain and establish a positive business relationship.
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.
Assistant buyers and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $49,586 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $67,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Fashion Nova | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an assistant buyer and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between assistant buyers' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Assistant Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 6.6% White, 75.8% 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 | 15% | 7% |