Category manager vs purchasing manager

The differences between category managers and purchasing managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a category manager, becoming a purchasing manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a category manager has an average salary of $102,035, which is higher than the $98,118 average annual salary of a purchasing manager.

The top three skills for a category manager include strategic sourcing, category strategy and supplier performance. The most important skills for a purchasing manager are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and project management.

Category manager vs purchasing manager overview

	Category Manager	Purchasing Manager
Yearly salary	$102,035	$98,118
Hourly rate	$49.06	$47.17
Growth rate	10%	-6%
Number of jobs	108,424	30,430
Job satisfaction	5	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 74%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age	39	47
Years of experience	10	6

What does a category manager do?

Category managers are usually employed in the retail industry. They are primarily responsible for the sales enhancement of a specific group of products. The managers are involved in pricing, marketing, inventory, and vendor management. Their daily tasks include meeting with suppliers to talk about the plans, conducting orientation to the market research company, and updating category reports. Qualified applicants must have a degree in business administration or a related field as well as relevant job experience in a related job.

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.

Category manager vs purchasing manager salary

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

	Category Manager	Purchasing Manager
Average salary	$102,035	$98,118
Salary range	Between $74,000 And $138,000	Between $70,000 And $136,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Richmond, CA
Highest paying state	Nevada	Maine
Best paying company	McKinsey & Company Inc	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Technology

Differences between category manager and purchasing manager education

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

	Category Manager	Purchasing Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 74%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Georgia	Stanford University

Category manager vs purchasing manager demographics

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

	Category Manager	Purchasing Manager
Average age	39	47
Gender ratio	Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3%	Male, 67.0% Female, 33.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	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 Percentage	10%	11%

Differences between category manager and purchasing manager duties and responsibilities

Category manager example responsibilities.

Lead team to manage predominantly seasonal fashion apparel by reacting to trends with appropriate buys and proactive exit strategies.
Manage and create purchase plans and OTB's.
Design and manage all BTL plans for the brands.
Manage multiple sources of data to mine for business voids and opportunities at both macro and micro levels.
Deliver profit and sales forecasts, manage merchandising budget, and used IRI data to produce optimal product mix.
Lead a high performance jewelry merchandising team in a digital commerce environment through television, e-commerce, and social media.

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.

Category manager vs purchasing manager skills

Common category manager skills

Strategic Sourcing, 8%
Category Strategy, 8%
Supplier Performance, 5%
Supplier Relationships, 4%
Customer Service, 4%
Cost Savings, 4%

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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Category Manager vs Purchasing Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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