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The differences between procurement engineers and senior buyers 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 senior buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $75,682 average annual salary of a procurement engineer.
The top three skills for a procurement engineer include project management, cost reduction and supplier quality. The most important skills for a senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Procurement Engineer | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,682 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $36.39 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | 10% | - |
| Number of jobs | 28,571 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
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 engineers and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Engineer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $75,682 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $105,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Apple | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a procurement engineer and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Engineer | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement engineers' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Procurement Engineer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| 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, 12.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 7% |