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The differences between buyers and purchasing supervisors 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 supervisor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a purchasing supervisor has an average salary of $68,702, 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 supervisor are purchase orders, MRP, and supplier performance.
| Buyer | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $54,049 | $68,702 |
| Hourly rate | $25.99 | $33.03 |
| Growth rate | - | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 23,589 | 19,412 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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 supervisor orders supplies, equipment, and materials from vendors by buyers. The purchasing supervisors assess, select, and build relationships with the vendors. They do the negotiation for the contracts of goods and services. It is their job to review the purchase orders for accuracy and ensure to obtain the best prices. The skills supervisors need to develop include marketing, communication, leadership, and management. They should also know about purchasing products and services.
Buyers and purchasing supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Buyer | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $54,049 | $68,702 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $76,000 | Between $45,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | Englewood, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | CDW |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a buyer and a purchasing supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Buyer | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between buyers' and purchasing supervisors' demographics:
| Buyer | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.9% Female, 56.1% | Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6% |
| 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, 12.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 7% |