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The differences between senior buyers and supply chain specialists 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 supply chain specialist. Additionally, a senior buyer has an average salary of $79,848, which is higher than the $71,414 average annual salary of a supply chain specialist.
The top three skills for a senior buyer include supply chain, purchase orders and MRP. The most important skills for a supply chain specialist are supply chain, logistics, and chain management.
| Senior Buyer | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $79,848 | $71,414 |
| Hourly rate | $38.39 | $34.33 |
| Growth rate | - | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 27,412 | 25,129 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| 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.
It is the responsibility of the supply chain specialist to procure materials to manufacture and ship products. The supply chain specialist determines and orders the proper quantities and negotiates pricing and their shipment terms. They oversee the delivery of necessary materials for the fulfillment of orders made by customers. The specialists need to develop strong skills in project management, business ethics, problem-solving, understanding of financial statements, communication skills, and cost accounting skills.
Senior buyers and supply chain specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Buyer | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Average salary | $79,848 | $71,414 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $112,000 | Between $49,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Capgemini | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior buyer and a supply chain specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Buyer | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior buyers' and supply chain specialists' demographics:
| Senior Buyer | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% | Male, 58.6% Female, 41.4% |
| 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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 10% |