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The differences between procurement supervisors and purchasers 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 supervisor and a purchaser. Additionally, a procurement supervisor has an average salary of $72,602, which is higher than the $50,031 average annual salary of a purchaser.
The top three skills for a procurement supervisor include logistics, purchase orders and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a purchaser are purchase orders, FDA, and POS.
| Procurement Supervisor | Purchaser | |
| Yearly salary | $72,602 | $50,031 |
| Hourly rate | $34.90 | $24.05 |
| Growth rate | 11% | - |
| Number of jobs | 16,985 | 6,852 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Procurement supervisors are professionals who supervise the activities and work of procurement personnel while participating in the implementation of goals and priorities for an organization's procurement activities and operations. These supervisors are required to conduct technical audits on logistics equipment and analyze logistics data to identify opportunities for improvement in performance and output. They must implement an inventory management system that will reduce inventory shortages while increasing turn rates. Procurement supervisors must also prepare purchase orders for goods and services to improve customer satisfaction.
A Purchaser is responsible for buying goods and services from distribution centers to sell to customers or other companies. They conduct data analysis and research current market trends to identify public demands and generate resources that would increase the company's revenues and profitability. They also ensure the adequacy of supply inventories for deliveries, respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, and recommend products according to their needs and budget requirements. A Purchaser must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in documenting purchase transactions and negotiating contracts with suppliers and vendors.
Procurement supervisors and purchasers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Supervisor | Purchaser | |
| Average salary | $72,602 | $50,031 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $100,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Natera | Barnes Group |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a procurement supervisor and a purchaser in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Supervisor | Purchaser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement supervisors' and purchasers' demographics:
| Procurement Supervisor | Purchaser | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |