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The differences between purchasing assistants and purchasers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a purchasing assistant and a purchaser. Additionally, a purchaser has an average salary of $50,031, which is higher than the $38,331 average annual salary of a purchasing assistant.
The top three skills for a purchasing assistant include purchase orders, purchase requisitions and customer service. The most important skills for a purchaser are purchase orders, FDA, and POS.
| Purchasing Assistant | Purchaser | |
| Yearly salary | $38,331 | $50,031 |
| Hourly rate | $18.43 | $24.05 |
| Growth rate | -8% | - |
| Number of jobs | 8,415 | 6,852 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A purchasing assistant is responsible for obtaining raw materials and goods for a business or company. They primarily function to assist purchasing managers or supervisors by keeping records, maintaining inventory, reviewing purchase orders, and monitoring shipments and deliveries. Furthermore, a purchasing assistant may perform administrative support tasks ranging from arranging appointments and managing schedules, answering calls and inquiries, reaching out to vendors and suppliers, producing reports, and coordinating with various departments to ensure the smooth flow of products within the company.
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.
Purchasing assistants and purchasers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Purchasing Assistant | Purchaser | |
| Average salary | $38,331 | $50,031 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $47,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Barnes Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a purchasing assistant and a purchaser in terms of educational background:
| Purchasing Assistant | Purchaser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between purchasing assistants' and purchasers' demographics:
| Purchasing Assistant | Purchaser | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.8% Female, 77.2% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |