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The differences between 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 a 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 $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 senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $54,049 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $25.99 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 23,589 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
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.
Buyers and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $54,049 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $76,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Englewood, NJ | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a buyer and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between buyers' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.9% Female, 56.1% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| 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, 12.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 7% |