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The differences between procurement buyers and purchasing supervisors 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 buyer and a purchasing supervisor. Additionally, a purchasing supervisor has an average salary of $68,702, 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 purchasing supervisor are purchase orders, MRP, and supplier performance.
| Procurement Buyer | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $61,874 | $68,702 |
| Hourly rate | $29.75 | $33.03 |
| Growth rate | - | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 16,674 | 19,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A purchasing supervisor orders supplies, equipment, and materials from vendors by buyers. The purchasing supervisors assess, select, and build relationships with the vendors. They do the negotiation for the contracts of goods and services. It is their job to review the purchase orders for accuracy and ensure to obtain the best prices. The skills supervisors need to develop include marketing, communication, leadership, and management. They should also know about purchasing products and services.
Procurement buyers and purchasing supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Buyer | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $61,874 | $68,702 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $87,000 | Between $45,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stockton, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Invesco | CDW |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a procurement buyer and a purchasing supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Buyer | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement buyers' and purchasing supervisors' demographics:
| Procurement Buyer | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% | Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |