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The differences between purchasing buyers 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 purchasing buyer and a contracts administrator. Additionally, a contracts administrator has an average salary of $52,876, which is higher than the $47,471 average annual salary of a purchasing buyer.
The top three skills for a purchasing buyer include purchase orders, logistics and cost savings. The most important skills for a contracts administrator are contract administration, customer service, and contract management.
| Purchasing Buyer | Contracts Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $47,471 | $52,876 |
| Hourly rate | $22.82 | $25.42 |
| Growth rate | - | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 21,158 | 58,038 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
In a retail setting, a purchasing buyer is primarily responsible for devising strategies for procuring supplies, ensuring that it aligns with the company's needs and standards. They are also responsible for conducting thorough marketing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather and process documentation, liaising and negotiating with vendors and suppliers, and keeping track of all purchasing orders to ensure accuracy and timeliness. Furthermore, as a purchasing buyer, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions and submit regular reports to supervisors.
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.
Purchasing buyers and contracts administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Purchasing Buyer | Contracts Administrator | |
| Average salary | $47,471 | $52,876 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $35,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Goleta, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Aramco Services Company | Ngam Advisors, L.P. |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Finance |
There are a few differences between a purchasing buyer and a contracts administrator in terms of educational background:
| Purchasing Buyer | Contracts Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between purchasing buyers' and contracts administrators' demographics:
| Purchasing Buyer | Contracts Administrator | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1% | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.7% 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% |