Purchasing manager vs purchasing agent

The differences between purchasing managers and purchasing agents 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 manager and a purchasing agent. Additionally, a purchasing manager has an average salary of $98,118, which is higher than the $51,950 average annual salary of a purchasing agent.

The top three skills for a purchasing manager include supply chain, strategic sourcing and project management. The most important skills for a purchasing agent are purchase orders, customer service, and logistics.

Purchasing manager vs purchasing agent overview

	Purchasing Manager	Purchasing Agent
Yearly salary	$98,118	$51,950
Hourly rate	$47.17	$24.98
Growth rate	-6%	-
Number of jobs	30,430	45,856
Job satisfaction	4	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	47	48
Years of experience	6	6

What does a purchasing manager do?

A purchasing manager is responsible for organizing and managing products to order or sell. Purchasing managers review product specifications, negotiate pricing details with the vendors, evaluate and choose the best suppliers, and assist purchasing agents. Purchase managers are also responsible for resolving order processing issues and analyzing current market trends to determine which products to purchase. A purchasing manager must have excellent decision-making and strategical skills to examine effects, inspect defective items, and create an in-depth analysis of customers' needs to improve their performance and sales.

What does a purchasing agent do?

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.

Purchasing manager vs purchasing agent salary

Purchasing managers and purchasing agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Purchasing Manager	Purchasing Agent
Average salary	$98,118	$51,950
Salary range	Between $70,000 And $136,000	Between $37,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	Richmond, CA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Maine	Maryland
Best paying company	McKinsey & Company Inc	Abiomed
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between purchasing manager and purchasing agent education

There are a few differences between a purchasing manager and a purchasing agent in terms of educational background:

	Purchasing Manager	Purchasing Agent
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Purchasing manager vs purchasing agent demographics

Here are the differences between purchasing managers' and purchasing agents' demographics:

	Purchasing Manager	Purchasing Agent
Average age	47	48
Gender ratio	Male, 67.0% Female, 33.0%	Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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%
LGBT Percentage	11%	7%

Differences between purchasing manager and purchasing agent duties and responsibilities

Purchasing manager example responsibilities.

Manage payroll and accounts payable.
Lead major purchasing projects for automotive OEM vehicles.
Used RFI, RFP, RFQ techniques to identify, select, and engage with suppliers to ensure competitive market advantage.
Establish an integrate MRO supply program which eliminate specific company manage buying, inventory control and warehousing functions.
Manage all procurement activities to support manufacturing operations including raw materials, tooling, components and MRO services.
Manage several indirect sourcing RFP projects including categories for translation services, payroll services, capital equipment and engineering services.

Purchasing agent example responsibilities.

Reorganize MRO to manage inventory more efficiently.
Utilize MaCola ERP system to process and manage purchase requisitions and purchase orders in coordination with manufacturing forecast.
Process purchase orders from electronically generate RFQ'S.
Develop programs with suppliers to ensure that commodities meet engineering and quality specifications while maintaining on-time delivery.
Prepare purchase orders, RFP's and RFB's, advertise solicitations, review responses and approve contract acceptance.
Send out RFQ's and award orders to the best fit and price vendor to ensure manufacturing meets critical due dates.

Purchasing manager vs purchasing agent skills

Common purchasing manager skills

Supply Chain, 15%
Strategic Sourcing, 7%
Project Management, 5%
Supplier Performance, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%
Purchase Orders, 4%

Common purchasing agent skills

Purchase Orders, 30%
Customer Service, 12%
Logistics, 5%
Inventory Control, 4%
MRP, 3%
Cost Savings, 3%

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Purchasing Manager
Purchasing Manager vs Purchasing Agent

Updated January 8, 2025

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