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The differences between purchasing agents 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 purchasing agent, 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 $51,950 average annual salary of a purchasing agent.
The top three skills for a purchasing agent include purchase orders, customer service and logistics. The most important skills for a procurement analyst are purchase orders, supplier performance, and customer service.
| Purchasing Agent | Procurement Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $51,950 | $64,448 |
| Hourly rate | $24.98 | $30.98 |
| Growth rate | - | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 45,856 | 75,154 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
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.
Purchasing agents and procurement analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Purchasing Agent | Procurement Analyst | |
| Average salary | $51,950 | $64,448 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $72,000 | Between $45,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Abiomed | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a purchasing agent and a procurement analyst in terms of educational background:
| Purchasing Agent | Procurement Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between purchasing agents' and procurement analysts' demographics:
| Purchasing Agent | Procurement Analyst | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |