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The differences between procurement supervisors and purchasing agents 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 purchasing agent. Additionally, a procurement supervisor has an average salary of $72,602, which is higher than the $51,950 average annual salary of a purchasing agent.
The top three skills for a procurement supervisor include logistics, purchase orders and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a purchasing agent are purchase orders, customer service, and logistics.
| Procurement Supervisor | Purchasing Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $72,602 | $51,950 |
| Hourly rate | $34.90 | $24.98 |
| Growth rate | 11% | - |
| Number of jobs | 16,985 | 45,856 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| 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 purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection. Purchasing agents should also be proficient in interpreting and evaluating data, researching on best marketing sources and alternatives, issuing required documentation for suppliers, as well as managing customer queries as needed. Being a purchasing agent requires critical-thinking skills in assessing concerns and providing solutions should there be any possible negotiation conflicts.
Procurement supervisors and purchasing agents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Supervisor | Purchasing Agent | |
| Average salary | $72,602 | $51,950 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $100,000 | Between $37,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Natera | Abiomed |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a procurement supervisor and a purchasing agent in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Supervisor | Purchasing Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between procurement supervisors' and purchasing agents' demographics:
| Procurement Supervisor | Purchasing Agent | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2% | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |