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The differences between purchasers and contracts administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a purchaser and a contracts administrator. Additionally, a contracts administrator has an average salary of $52,876, which is higher than the $50,031 average annual salary of a purchaser.
The top three skills for a purchaser include purchase orders, FDA and POS. The most important skills for a contracts administrator are contract administration, customer service, and contract management.
| Purchaser | Contracts Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $50,031 | $52,876 |
| Hourly rate | $24.05 | $25.42 |
| Growth rate | - | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 6,852 | 58,038 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Contract administrators create and manage legal contracts from which the company participates. They ensure that all entities to the contract will accomplish their obligations, as indicated in the contract. They usually work for larger organizations that might be involved with different or highly complex contracts. These organizations spread across a range of industries, including government, construction, and healthcare. Their responsibilities include addressing any conflicts of questions regarding the contract, analyzing the possible risks posed by contracts, and working alongside the legal and procurement teams.
Purchasers and contracts administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Purchaser | Contracts Administrator | |
| Average salary | $50,031 | $52,876 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $68,000 | Between $35,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Atlantic City, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Barnes Group | Ngam Advisors, L.P. |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a purchaser and a contracts administrator in terms of educational background:
| Purchaser | Contracts Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between purchasers' and contracts administrators' demographics:
| Purchaser | Contracts Administrator | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% |
| 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, 9.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.7% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |