Post job

Buyer lead vs purchasing supervisor

The differences between buyer leads and purchasing supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a buyer lead and a purchasing supervisor. Additionally, a purchasing supervisor has an average salary of $68,702, which is higher than the $60,256 average annual salary of a buyer lead.

The top three skills for a buyer lead include purchase orders, supplier performance and commodities. The most important skills for a purchasing supervisor are purchase orders, MRP, and supplier performance.

Buyer lead vs purchasing supervisor overview

Buyer LeadPurchasing Supervisor
Yearly salary$60,256$68,702
Hourly rate$28.97$33.03
Growth rate--6%
Number of jobs20,61019,412
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

Buyer lead vs purchasing supervisor salary

Buyer leads and purchasing supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Buyer LeadPurchasing Supervisor
Average salary$60,256$68,702
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $82,000Between $45,000 And $104,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandCalifornia
Best paying companyLam ResearchCDW
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between buyer lead and purchasing supervisor education

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

Buyer LeadPurchasing Supervisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Buyer lead vs purchasing supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between buyer leads' and purchasing supervisors' demographics:

Buyer LeadPurchasing Supervisor
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 55.4% Female, 44.6%Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.7% 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 Percentage7%7%

Differences between buyer lead and purchasing supervisor duties and responsibilities

Buyer lead example responsibilities.

  • Facilitate and manage key communication between internal customers and suppliers regarding RFP status, price and contract negotiations.
  • Used T4m (ERP system )
  • Direct and indirect (MRO) purchase materials.
  • Implement usage of ERP system to its full capacity.
  • Serve as key team member on development and implementation of automate MRO systems.
  • Issue and analyze RFQ and RFP to obtain the best cost and quality for goods and services.
  • Show more

Purchasing supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage increasing procurement demands of inventory/supplies for manufacturing activities base on an ERP MRP system.
  • Lead and analyze all RFQ's, RFI's and RFP's from different qualify vendors.
  • Interview current and prospective suppliers to determine supplier capabilities, logistics and inventory control and management while negotiate delivery terms.
  • Review requisitions and RFP's, obtain quotations, negotiate pricing, examine bids and award contracts.
  • Assist in the yearly budgeting process including RFQ's and establishing contracts both locally and at the corporate level.
  • Direct large projects by creating RFP's, cost negotiation, and bid analysis on specifications and budget cost provided.
  • Show more

Buyer lead vs purchasing supervisor skills

Common buyer lead skills
  • Purchase Orders, 19%
  • Supplier Performance, 17%
  • Commodities, 7%
  • RFQ, 6%
  • On-Time Delivery, 6%
  • Customer Service, 4%
Common purchasing supervisor skills
  • Purchase Orders, 20%
  • MRP, 5%
  • Supplier Performance, 4%
  • Logistics, 4%
  • Corrective Action, 4%
  • On-Time Delivery, 4%

Browse business and financial jobs