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Contractor buyer vs order entry specialist

The differences between contractor buyers and order entry specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a contractor buyer and an order entry specialist. Additionally, a contractor buyer has an average salary of $40,785, which is higher than the $34,625 average annual salary of an order entry specialist.

The top three skills for a contractor buyer include customer service, purchase orders and data entry. The most important skills for an order entry specialist are data entry, customer service, and purchase orders.

Contractor buyer vs order entry specialist overview

Contractor BuyerOrder Entry Specialist
Yearly salary$40,785$34,625
Hourly rate$19.61$16.65
Growth rate--
Number of jobs22,98565,085
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

What does a contractor buyer do?

A contractor buyer is responsible for acquiring materials and resources for construction and manufacturing processes that meet the quality standards and budget limitations. Contractor buyers negotiate offers with trusted suppliers and vendors for cost-effective materials based on design specifications and requirements. They also monitor the accurate distribution and delivery schedules to maintain the consistency of project plans and finish the task within the required deadlines. A contractor buyer must have excellent knowledge of the construction industry to identify the reliability of resources and handle the costings efficiently.

What does an order entry specialist do?

An order entry specialist is an individual who performs high-volume data entry to deliver precise and timely work orders to the production staff. Order entry specialists must provide customers with worldwide logistics services through the domestic and international movement of their goods. They provide outstanding customer service by maintaining pricing, stock transfer, and backorder reports from manufacturers to dealers. Order entry specialists must also resolve complaints and handle troubleshooting issues more accurately and professionally while handling multiple tasks effectively.

Contractor buyer vs order entry specialist salary

Contractor buyers and order entry specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Contractor BuyerOrder Entry Specialist
Average salary$40,785$34,625
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $50,000Between $28,000 And $42,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCLas Vegas, NV
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew Hampshire
Best paying companyJohnson ControlsZynex Medical
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between contractor buyer and order entry specialist education

There are a few differences between a contractor buyer and an order entry specialist in terms of educational background:

Contractor BuyerOrder Entry Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Contractor buyer vs order entry specialist demographics

Here are the differences between contractor buyers' and order entry specialists' demographics:

Contractor BuyerOrder Entry Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 35.3% Female, 64.7%Male, 21.0% Female, 79.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.9% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.9% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between contractor buyer and order entry specialist duties and responsibilities

Contractor buyer example responsibilities.

  • Manage OEM IBM customer account from quote to cash.
  • Manage returned inventory (RMA's), and provide internal reporting as needed.
  • Facilitate and manage the logistics of large, multifamily cooperative purchases.
  • Manage escalations and expedites process in support of shorten interval requests.
  • Work with BAAN, an ERP system, to check MRP and place purchase orders and production orders.
  • Preside over inventory cycle counts and ISO audits.
  • Show more

Order entry specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage escalations and expedites process in support of shorten interval requests.
  • Stock shelves, bag groceries, and gather carts while meeting customer needs.
  • Pull, pack and ship LTL's.
  • Send corporate orders invoicing through EDI system.
  • Verify tally sheets and work with LTL shipments.
  • Order doors, windows, moldings and hardware.
  • Show more

Contractor buyer vs order entry specialist skills

Common contractor buyer skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Purchase Orders, 16%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Logistics, 4%
  • Customer Orders, 4%
  • ERP, 4%
Common order entry specialist skills
  • Data Entry, 28%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Purchase Orders, 11%
  • Customer Orders, 8%
  • Order Entry, 6%
  • Computer System, 3%

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