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The differences between procurement supervisors 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 supervisor and a senior buyer. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $72,602 average annual salary of a procurement supervisor.
The top three skills for a procurement supervisor include logistics, purchase orders and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Procurement Supervisor | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $72,602 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $34.90 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | 11% | - |
| Number of jobs | 16,985 | 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 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.
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 supervisors and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Procurement Supervisor | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $72,602 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $100,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Natera | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a procurement supervisor and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Procurement Supervisor | 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 supervisors' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Procurement Supervisor | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| 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, 12.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |