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The differences between procurement agents and purchasers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a procurement agent and a purchaser. Additionally, a procurement agent has an average salary of $72,384, which is higher than the $50,031 average annual salary of a purchaser.
The top three skills for a procurement agent include supply chain, strategic sourcing and supplier performance. The most important skills for a purchaser are purchase orders, FDA, and POS.
| Procurement Agent | Purchaser | |
| Yearly salary | $72,384 | $50,031 |
| Hourly rate | $34.80 | $24.05 |
| Growth rate | 11% | - |
| Number of jobs | 45,198 | 6,852 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A procurement agent develops profitable measures to save the client money and ensure the quality of goods supplied. Procurement agents obtain the purchased items through suppliers, monitor them, and expedite the orders. They oversee the activities and performance of the suppliers for compliance. Their duties include the verification of item receipts, resolving shipment-related problems, and authorizing purchase payments through documentation. The necessary skills for this job include being accomplished, decisive, and strong communication skills.
A Purchaser is responsible for buying goods and services from distribution centers to sell to customers or other companies. They conduct data analysis and research current market trends to identify public demands and generate resources that would increase the company's revenues and profitability. They also ensure the adequacy of supply inventories for deliveries, respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, and recommend products according to their needs and budget requirements. A Purchaser must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in documenting purchase transactions and negotiating contracts with suppliers and vendors.
Procurement agents and purchasers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Agent | Purchaser | |
| Average salary | $72,384 | $50,031 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $106,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Barnes Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a procurement agent and a purchaser in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Agent | Purchaser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement agents' and purchasers' demographics:
| Procurement Agent | Purchaser | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |