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Junior buyer/buyer vs contracts administrator

The differences between junior buyers/buyers and contracts administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a junior buyer/buyer and a contracts administrator. Additionally, a contracts administrator has an average salary of $52,876, which is higher than the $52,374 average annual salary of a junior buyer/buyer.

The top three skills for a junior buyer/buyer include purchase orders, MRP and ERP. The most important skills for a contracts administrator are contract administration, customer service, and contract management.

Junior buyer/buyer vs contracts administrator overview

Junior Buyer/BuyerContracts Administrator
Yearly salary$52,374$52,876
Hourly rate$25.18$25.42
Growth rate--6%
Number of jobs22,37058,038
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

What does a junior buyer/buyer do?

A junior buyer/buyer is in charge of purchasing supplies in adherence to company goals. Their responsibilities typically revolve around participating in meetings that discuss the kinds of products to procure, performing research and analysis to find the ideal vendors or suppliers, liaising and negotiating with external parties, maintaining invoices and records of all transactions, and producing progress reports. Furthermore, it is essential to monitor the shipment and deliveries of supplies, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Should there be any problems, it is necessary to coordinate with vendors right away.

What does a contracts administrator do?

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.

Junior buyer/buyer vs contracts administrator salary

Junior buyers/buyers and contracts administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Junior Buyer/BuyerContracts Administrator
Average salary$52,374$52,876
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $69,000Between $35,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CityJersey City, NJWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMaryland
Best paying companyAstronicsNgam Advisors, L.P.
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between junior buyer/buyer and contracts administrator education

There are a few differences between a junior buyer/buyer and a contracts administrator in terms of educational background:

Junior Buyer/BuyerContracts Administrator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Junior buyer/buyer vs contracts administrator demographics

Here are the differences between junior buyers/buyers' and contracts administrators' demographics:

Junior Buyer/BuyerContracts Administrator
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 29.8% Female, 70.2%Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between junior buyer/buyer and contracts administrator duties and responsibilities

Junior buyer/buyer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and purchase commodities ranging from foil packaging and corrugate packaging to numerous food ingredients.
  • Assure suppliers comply with safety and quality alignments within company standards and manage non-conformance reporting for logistics as per company policy.
  • Source through ERP system to accommodate qualify requirements put out by OEM sales force.
  • Maintain ISO compliance status by ensuring all documents, processes, forms follow ISO standards.
  • Assist in requesting RFQ's for procurement of components need for refinery project in Beaumont, TX.
  • Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids to suppliers through RFQ process.
  • Show more

Contracts administrator example responsibilities.

  • Manage communication between both interviewees and candidates regarding interview logistics.
  • Coordinate requirements and interface with other division personnel to accomplish timely and cost effective procurement of assign commodities.
  • Optimize GPO department operating efficiency with cleanup, data analysis, and rebate reconciliation projects.
  • Ensure ERP data management for customer info and contract.
  • Mentor employees new to the duties and responsibilities of an SCA.
  • Utilize SQL queries, advance excel formulas, functions and project scheduling tools.
  • Show more

Junior buyer/buyer vs contracts administrator skills

Common junior buyer/buyer skills
  • Purchase Orders, 31%
  • MRP, 7%
  • ERP, 5%
  • Data Entry, 4%
  • Strong Analytical, 3%
  • JR, 3%
Common contracts administrator skills
  • Contract Administration, 11%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Contract Management, 6%
  • Proposal Preparation, 5%
  • Purchase Orders, 5%
  • Contract Terms, 5%

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