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The differences between purchasers and procurement analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a purchaser, becoming a procurement analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a procurement analyst has an average salary of $64,448, 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 procurement analyst are purchase orders, supplier performance, and customer service.
| Purchaser | Procurement Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $50,031 | $64,448 |
| Hourly rate | $24.05 | $30.98 |
| Growth rate | - | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 6,852 | 75,154 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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 analysts procure favorable contracts by acting as liaisons between suppliers and their employers. They are hired by organizations that rely on supply chain management to analyze and evaluate potential suppliers, prepare reports about monthly supply costs, and negotiate contracts. With good critical thinking skills, these procurement analysts who are also known as purchasing analysts, evaluate vendors and suppliers based on the speed of delivery, quality, and price. They use quantitative methods to support fact-based decision-making to become competitive and to ensure cost-efficiency and high quality of the products and services.
Purchasers and procurement analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Purchaser | Procurement Analyst | |
| Average salary | $50,031 | $64,448 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $68,000 | Between $45,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | Atlantic City, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Barnes Group | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a purchaser and a procurement analyst in terms of educational background:
| Purchaser | Procurement Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between purchasers' and procurement analysts' demographics:
| Purchaser | Procurement Analyst | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% |
| 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, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 11.8% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 12% |