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The differences between purchasers and procurement 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 purchaser and a procurement buyer. Additionally, a procurement buyer has an average salary of $61,874, 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 buyer are purchase orders, supplier performance, and logistics.
| Purchaser | Procurement Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $50,031 | $61,874 |
| Hourly rate | $24.05 | $29.75 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 6,852 | 16,674 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
Procurement Buyers oversee the requisition of goods and services for the company. They receive purchase requisitions from employees or departments and contact possible vendors that can supply the items. They compare the price quotations of these vendors and choose the most cost-efficient option. Upon choosing, procurement buyers notify the vendor and proceed with the request. Procurement buyers are responsible for the receipt of goods from the suppliers. They check the deliveries and ensure that all orders are complete and in good condition. They also handle the receipts and consolidate these for processing of payment.
Purchasers and procurement buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Purchaser | Procurement Buyer | |
| Average salary | $50,031 | $61,874 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $68,000 | Between $43,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Atlantic City, NJ | Stockton, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Barnes Group | Invesco |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a purchaser and a procurement buyer in terms of educational background:
| Purchaser | Procurement Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between purchasers' and procurement buyers' demographics:
| Purchaser | Procurement Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |