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The differences between directors of purchasing and estimators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a director of purchasing, becoming an estimator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a director of purchasing has an average salary of $106,945, which is higher than the $67,162 average annual salary of an estimator.
The top three skills for a director of purchasing include supply chain, purchase orders and product development. The most important skills for an estimator are customer service, cost estimates, and project management.
| Director Of Purchasing | Estimator | |
| Yearly salary | $106,945 | $67,162 |
| Hourly rate | $51.42 | $32.29 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -2% |
| Number of jobs | 17,847 | 12,567 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
A director of purchasing oversees the procedures related to buying resources and supplies, directing operations from planning to execution while adhering to standards and company policies. They primarily perform research and assessments to understand project needs in terms of price, quality, and delivery time. They also identify ideal suppliers, negotiate deals, and build positive business relationships. Additionally, a director of purchasing has the authority to make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities among staff, oversee employment procedures within the department, and solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Estimators work in construction and manufacturing businesses to estimate the operational costs of the company. It is the responsibility of the estimators to compile the estimates of the products and services. They prepare work for estimation through blueprints, specifications, proposals, and its associated documents. It is also expected from them to find their potential clients' needs and wants, research equipment and materials, and calculate labor costs. The organization, time management, and effective communication are the skills expected from a good estimator.
Directors of purchasing and estimators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Purchasing | Estimator | |
| Average salary | $106,945 | $67,162 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $166,000 | Between $46,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Rivian | BlackRock |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a director of purchasing and an estimator in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Purchasing | Estimator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between directors of purchasing' and estimators' demographics:
| Director Of Purchasing | Estimator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9% | Male, 82.1% Female, 17.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 2.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 4.5% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 4% |