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The differences between contract workers and senior buyers 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 senior buyer. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $70,825 average annual salary of a contract worker.
The top three skills for a contract worker include financial statements, SQL and payroll. The most important skills for a senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Contract Worker | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,825 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $34.05 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | -8% | - |
| Number of jobs | 36,853 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
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.
Contract workers and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Worker | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $70,825 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $95,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | - | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a contract worker and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Contract Worker | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between contract workers' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Contract Worker | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| 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, 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 | 7% | 7% |