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The differences between contract workers 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 contract worker and a purchasing supervisor. Additionally, a contract worker has an average salary of $70,825, which is higher than the $68,702 average annual salary of a purchasing supervisor.
The top three skills for a contract worker include financial statements, SQL and payroll. The most important skills for a purchasing supervisor are purchase orders, MRP, and supplier performance.
| Contract Worker | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $70,825 | $68,702 |
| Hourly rate | $34.05 | $33.03 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 36,853 | 19,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A contract worker is an independent contractor who only works at companies for a limited amount of time, according to agreed-upon contract terms. When it comes to employment, a contract worker may find opportunities in different industries, depending upon their set of skills and abilities. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company or industry of employment, it typically includes performing basic tasks, maintaining an active communication line with co-workers, and adhering to company policies and regulations.
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.
Contract workers and purchasing supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Worker | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $70,825 | $68,702 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $95,000 | Between $45,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | CDW |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a contract worker and a purchasing supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Contract Worker | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between contract workers' and purchasing supervisors' demographics:
| Contract Worker | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8% | Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 65.8% 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 | 7% | 7% |