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Buyer vs purchasing manager

The differences between buyers and purchasing managers 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 manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a purchasing manager has an average salary of $98,118, which is higher than the $54,049 average annual salary of a buyer.

The top three skills for a buyer include purchase orders, customer service and logistics. The most important skills for a purchasing manager are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and project management.

Buyer vs purchasing manager overview

BuyerPurchasing Manager
Yearly salary$54,049$98,118
Hourly rate$25.99$47.17
Growth rate--6%
Number of jobs23,58930,430
Job satisfaction54
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4747
Years of experience-6

What does a buyer do?

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.

What does a purchasing manager do?

A purchasing manager is responsible for organizing and managing products to order or sell. Purchasing managers review product specifications, negotiate pricing details with the vendors, evaluate and choose the best suppliers, and assist purchasing agents. Purchase managers are also responsible for resolving order processing issues and analyzing current market trends to determine which products to purchase. A purchasing manager must have excellent decision-making and strategical skills to examine effects, inspect defective items, and create an in-depth analysis of customers' needs to improve their performance and sales.

Buyer vs purchasing manager salary

Buyers and purchasing managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

BuyerPurchasing Manager
Average salary$54,049$98,118
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $76,000Between $70,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CityEnglewood, NJRichmond, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMaine
Best paying companyNVIDIAMcKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industryAutomotiveTechnology

Differences between buyer and purchasing manager education

There are a few differences between a buyer and a purchasing manager in terms of educational background:

BuyerPurchasing Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - BakersfieldStanford University

Buyer vs purchasing manager demographics

Here are the differences between buyers' and purchasing managers' demographics:

BuyerPurchasing Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 43.9% Female, 56.1%Male, 67.0% Female, 33.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage15%11%

Differences between buyer and purchasing manager duties and responsibilities

Buyer example responsibilities.

  • Achieve QA initiatives by increasing transparency and communication with multiple departments and suppliers to achieve daily/weekly/monthly production requirements and expedites.
  • Manage all incoming RMA equipment, processing and directing to correct locations and departments.
  • Create, analyze and manage recaps pertaining to inventory, trends, OTB, and markdowns.
  • Manage KanBan spreadsheets to optimize inventory levels and supplier performance.
  • Manage business relationship with Japanese OEM of wide-format printer engines.
  • Manage MRB and IQA escalations to facilitate defective material resolutions.
    • Show more

Purchasing manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage payroll and accounts payable.
  • Lead major purchasing projects for automotive OEM vehicles.
  • Used RFI, RFP, RFQ techniques to identify, select, and engage with suppliers to ensure competitive market advantage.
  • Establish an integrate MRO supply program which eliminate specific company manage buying, inventory control and warehousing functions.
  • Manage all procurement activities to support manufacturing operations including raw materials, tooling, components and MRO services.
  • Manage several indirect sourcing RFP projects including categories for translation services, payroll services, capital equipment and engineering services.
    • Show more

Buyer vs purchasing manager skills

Common buyer skills
  • Purchase Orders, 22%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Logistics, 5%
  • Supplier Performance, 4%
  • MRP, 4%
  • Commodities, 3%
Common purchasing manager skills
  • Supply Chain, 15%
  • Strategic Sourcing, 7%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Supplier Performance, 5%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%
  • Purchase Orders, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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