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The differences between contracts administrators 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 contracts administrator and a senior buyer. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $52,876 average annual salary of a contracts administrator.
The top three skills for a contracts administrator include contract administration, customer service and contract management. The most important skills for a senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Contracts Administrator | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,876 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $25.42 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | -6% | - |
| Number of jobs | 58,038 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Contract administrators create and manage legal contracts from which the company participates. They ensure that all entities to the contract will accomplish their obligations, as indicated in the contract. They usually work for larger organizations that might be involved with different or highly complex contracts. These organizations spread across a range of industries, including government, construction, and healthcare. Their responsibilities include addressing any conflicts of questions regarding the contract, analyzing the possible risks posed by contracts, and working alongside the legal and procurement teams.
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.
Contracts administrators and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contracts Administrator | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $52,876 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $78,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | New York |
| Best paying company | Ngam Advisors, L.P. | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a contracts administrator and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Contracts Administrator | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between contracts administrators' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Contracts Administrator | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.7% White, 65.3% 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% |