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The differences between procurement buyers and senior buyers 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 senior buyer. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, 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 senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Procurement Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,874 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $29.75 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 16,674 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
The job of senior buyers, or also known as purchasing agents, is to meet the material needs of an organization. They are responsible for finding suppliers, arranging the distribution to several retail outlets, and supervising other purchasing agents. They also look for new product streams and establish procurement strategies. Senior buyers typically begin their careers as assistant buyers or junior purchasing agents. Most employers usually prefer those with college degrees in marketing, business, and economics.
Procurement buyers and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $61,874 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $87,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stockton, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Invesco | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a procurement buyer and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement buyers' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Procurement Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |