Produce buyer vs purchasing agent

The differences between produce buyers and purchasing agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a produce buyer, becoming a purchasing agent takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a produce buyer has an average salary of $55,778, which is higher than the $51,950 average annual salary of a purchasing agent.

The top three skills for a produce buyer include purchase orders, logistics and inventory control. The most important skills for a purchasing agent are purchase orders, customer service, and logistics.

Produce buyer vs purchasing agent overview

	Produce Buyer	Purchasing Agent
Yearly salary	$55,778	$51,950
Hourly rate	$26.82	$24.98
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	17,664	45,856
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	47	48
Years of experience	-	6

What does a produce buyer do?

Being a produce buyer requires commercial awareness, confidence, the ability to be a team player, interpersonal, math, and IT skills, as well as the ability to cope with high pressure. This position will demand negotiation and collaboration with produce suppliers in promoting, pricing, and advertising products. You will also be the primary contact between stores and suppliers, and also be responsible for maintaining supply quality through determining the best sources of produce.

What does a purchasing agent do?

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.

Produce buyer vs purchasing agent salary

Produce buyers and purchasing agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Produce Buyer	Purchasing Agent
Average salary	$55,778	$51,950
Salary range	Between $40,000 And $77,000	Between $37,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	-	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	-	Maryland
Best paying company	-	Abiomed
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between produce buyer and purchasing agent education

There are a few differences between a produce buyer and a purchasing agent in terms of educational background:

	Produce Buyer	Purchasing Agent
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	University of Pennsylvania

Produce buyer vs purchasing agent demographics

Here are the differences between produce buyers' and purchasing agents' demographics:

	Produce Buyer	Purchasing Agent
Average age	47	48
Gender ratio	Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7%	Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.6% White, 75.5% 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	15%	7%

Differences between produce buyer and purchasing agent duties and responsibilities

Produce buyer example responsibilities.

Analyze and manage goals for increasing sales, profit margins, turns, fill rate and manage logistics.
Manage open-to-buy to ensure continual flow of merchandise to stores and warehouses with careful attention to advertise events and promotions.
Coordinate with transportation department to ensure efficiency in logistics of transporting employees and products using company vehicles.
Manage open-to-buy to ensure continual flow of merchandise to stores and warehouses with careful attention to advertise events and promotions.
Track all incoming requests for quote (RFQ) from customers, sales managers, and outside sales representatives.
Review purchase requisitions and engineering specifications to determine which suppliers to RFQ.

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Purchasing agent example responsibilities.

Reorganize MRO to manage inventory more efficiently.
Utilize MaCola ERP system to process and manage purchase requisitions and purchase orders in coordination with manufacturing forecast.
Process purchase orders from electronically generate RFQ'S.
Develop programs with suppliers to ensure that commodities meet engineering and quality specifications while maintaining on-time delivery.
Prepare purchase orders, RFP's and RFB's, advertise solicitations, review responses and approve contract acceptance.
Send out RFQ's and award orders to the best fit and price vendor to ensure manufacturing meets critical due dates.

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Produce buyer vs purchasing agent skills

Common produce buyer skills

Purchase Orders, 12%
Logistics, 11%
Inventory Control, 10%
Quality Standards, 10%
Manage Inventory, 8%
Product Knowledge, 8%

Common purchasing agent skills

Purchase Orders, 30%
Customer Service, 12%
Logistics, 5%
Inventory Control, 4%
MRP, 3%
Cost Savings, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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