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The differences between buyers and purchasing assistants 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 purchasing assistant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a buyer has an average salary of $54,049, which is higher than the $38,331 average annual salary of a purchasing assistant.
The top three skills for a buyer include purchase orders, customer service and logistics. The most important skills for a purchasing assistant are purchase orders, purchase requisitions, and customer service.
| Buyer | Purchasing Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $54,049 | $38,331 |
| Hourly rate | $25.99 | $18.43 |
| Growth rate | - | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 23,589 | 8,415 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| 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 purchasing assistant is responsible for obtaining raw materials and goods for a business or company. They primarily function to assist purchasing managers or supervisors by keeping records, maintaining inventory, reviewing purchase orders, and monitoring shipments and deliveries. Furthermore, a purchasing assistant may perform administrative support tasks ranging from arranging appointments and managing schedules, answering calls and inquiries, reaching out to vendors and suppliers, producing reports, and coordinating with various departments to ensure the smooth flow of products within the company.
Buyers and purchasing assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Buyer | Purchasing Assistant | |
| Average salary | $54,049 | $38,331 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $76,000 | Between $31,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Englewood, NJ | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maryland |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a buyer and a purchasing assistant in terms of educational background:
| Buyer | Purchasing Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between buyers' and purchasing assistants' demographics:
| Buyer | Purchasing Assistant | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.9% Female, 56.1% | Male, 22.8% Female, 77.2% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 7% |