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The differences between buyers and purchasers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a buyer, becoming a purchaser takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a buyer has an average salary of $54,049, which is higher than the $50,031 average annual salary of a purchaser.
The top three skills for a buyer include purchase orders, customer service and logistics. The most important skills for a purchaser are purchase orders, FDA, and POS.
| Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Yearly salary | $54,049 | $50,031 |
| Hourly rate | $25.99 | $24.05 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 23,589 | 6,852 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A buyer's duties include product sourcing and comparing resources for the best product range that would suit the specific needs of the business. Buyers must have excellent communication and negotiation skills to evaluate items that most likely benefit the customer and improve the sales of daily operations with cost-efficient products. They also conduct extensive research for market and price trends while considering the highest quality standards. Buyers should also possess strong analytical skills to create purchase orders and statistical analysis.
A Purchaser is responsible for buying goods and services from distribution centers to sell to customers or other companies. They conduct data analysis and research current market trends to identify public demands and generate resources that would increase the company's revenues and profitability. They also ensure the adequacy of supply inventories for deliveries, respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, and recommend products according to their needs and budget requirements. A Purchaser must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in documenting purchase transactions and negotiating contracts with suppliers and vendors.
Buyers and purchasers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Average salary | $54,049 | $50,031 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $76,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Englewood, NJ | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Barnes Group |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a buyer and a purchaser in terms of educational background:
| Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between buyers' and purchasers' demographics:
| Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.9% Female, 56.1% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 6.7% White, 75.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 7% |