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The differences between retail buyers and senior buyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a retail buyer, becoming a senior buyer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $52,720 average annual salary of a retail buyer.
The top three skills for a retail buyer include gross margin, vendor relations and customer service. The most important skills for a senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Retail Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,720 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $25.35 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 74,254 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A retail buyer keeps accurate stock records so that they can purchase only necessary items for resale. They work within a specific budget and solve all the issues that arise with the supplier or merchandise. Besides determining contract terms and conditions, retail buyers also modify purchase orders as per the demand, availability, and season. Moreover, retail buyers choose the perfect merchandise to purchase by reviewing the catalogs. Furthermore, they locate, select, and procure merchandise for resale.
The job of senior buyers, or also known as purchasing agents, is to meet the material needs of an organization. They are responsible for finding suppliers, arranging the distribution to several retail outlets, and supervising other purchasing agents. They also look for new product streams and establish procurement strategies. Senior buyers typically begin their careers as assistant buyers or junior purchasing agents. Most employers usually prefer those with college degrees in marketing, business, and economics.
Retail buyers and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $52,720 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $72,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Edison, NJ | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | VF | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a retail buyer and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Retail Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Akron | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between retail buyers' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Retail Buyer | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 5.8% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |