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The differences between procurement buyers and procurement engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a procurement buyer, becoming a procurement engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a procurement engineer has an average salary of $75,682, which is higher than the $61,874 average annual salary of a procurement buyer.
The top three skills for a procurement buyer include purchase orders, supplier performance and logistics. The most important skills for a procurement engineer are project management, cost reduction, and supplier quality.
| Procurement Buyer | Procurement Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,874 | $75,682 |
| Hourly rate | $29.75 | $36.39 |
| Growth rate | - | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 16,674 | 28,571 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Procurement Buyers oversee the requisition of goods and services for the company. They receive purchase requisitions from employees or departments and contact possible vendors that can supply the items. They compare the price quotations of these vendors and choose the most cost-efficient option. Upon choosing, procurement buyers notify the vendor and proceed with the request. Procurement buyers are responsible for the receipt of goods from the suppliers. They check the deliveries and ensure that all orders are complete and in good condition. They also handle the receipts and consolidate these for processing of payment.
Procurement engineers are professionals who are responsible for procuring technical goods and services that are used in the industrial operation of an organization. These engineers must evaluate all new and existing suppliers and negotiate purchase agreements to ensure that the purchased goods and services are delivered as promised. They must ensure that all the machines and equipment are following the quality and performance standards of the facility. Procurement engineers must also choose appropriate suppliers by analyzing and comparing their products and prices.
Procurement buyers and procurement engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Buyer | Procurement Engineer | |
| Average salary | $61,874 | $75,682 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $87,000 | Between $54,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stockton, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Invesco | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a procurement buyer and a procurement engineer in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Buyer | Procurement Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement buyers' and procurement engineers' demographics:
| Procurement Buyer | Procurement Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 4% |