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The differences between senior buyers 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 senior buyer and a purchaser. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $50,031 average annual salary of a purchaser.
The top three skills for a senior buyer include supply chain, purchase orders and MRP. The most important skills for a purchaser are purchase orders, FDA, and POS.
| Senior Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Yearly salary | $79,848 | $50,031 |
| Hourly rate | $38.39 | $24.05 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 27,412 | 6,852 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
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.
Senior buyers and purchasers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Average salary | $79,848 | $50,031 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $112,000 | Between $36,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Atlantic City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Capgemini | Barnes Group |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior buyer and a purchaser in terms of educational background:
| Senior Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior buyers' and purchasers' demographics:
| Senior Buyer | Purchaser | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |