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The differences between procurement engineers and procurement agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a procurement engineer, becoming a procurement agent takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a procurement engineer has an average salary of $75,682, which is higher than the $72,384 average annual salary of a procurement agent.
The top three skills for a procurement engineer include project management, cost reduction and supplier quality. The most important skills for a procurement agent are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and supplier performance.
| Procurement Engineer | Procurement Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $75,682 | $72,384 |
| Hourly rate | $36.39 | $34.80 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 28,571 | 45,198 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
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.
Procurement engineers and procurement agents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Engineer | Procurement Agent | |
| Average salary | $75,682 | $72,384 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $105,000 | Between $49,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Apple | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a procurement engineer and a procurement agent in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Engineer | Procurement Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement engineers' and procurement agents' demographics:
| Procurement Engineer | Procurement Agent | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 7% |