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The differences between purchasing buyers 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 purchasing buyer and a procurement buyer. Additionally, a procurement buyer has an average salary of $61,874, 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 procurement buyer are purchase orders, supplier performance, and logistics.
| Purchasing Buyer | Procurement Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $47,471 | $61,874 |
| Hourly rate | $22.82 | $29.75 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 21,158 | 16,674 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
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.
Purchasing buyers and procurement buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Purchasing Buyer | Procurement Buyer | |
| Average salary | $47,471 | $61,874 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $43,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Goleta, CA | Stockton, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Aramco Services Company | Invesco |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a purchasing buyer and a procurement buyer in terms of educational background:
| Purchasing Buyer | Procurement Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between purchasing buyers' and procurement buyers' demographics:
| Purchasing Buyer | Procurement Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1% | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% |
| 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, 9.0% 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% |