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The differences between senior sourcing analysts and senior 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 senior sourcing analyst and a senior buyer. Additionally, a senior sourcing analyst has an average salary of $84,801, which is higher than the $79,848 average annual salary of a senior buyer.
The top three skills for a senior sourcing analyst include DOD, CI and intelligence analysis. The most important skills for a senior buyer are supply chain, purchase orders, and MRP.
| Senior Sourcing Analyst | Senior Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,801 | $79,848 |
| Hourly rate | $40.77 | $38.39 |
| Growth rate | 3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 12,504 | 27,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A senior sourcing analyst is an individual who oversees the planning and purchasing process for specific commodities and who supports new product launches. He/She or she should be able to establish relationships with suppliers to help in the sourcing process and in the negotiation of deals and contracts to ensure compliance with budgetary requirements. The position requires core skills such as strong analytical, mathematical, and negotiating skills and deep knowledge of the industry the analyst is working in. The education requirements for the job include an associate or bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, marketing, or a related field.
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.
Senior sourcing analysts and senior buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Sourcing Analyst | Senior Buyer | |
| Average salary | $84,801 | $79,848 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $112,000 | Between $56,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Foster City, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a senior sourcing analyst and a senior buyer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Sourcing Analyst | Senior Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior sourcing analysts' and senior buyers' demographics:
| Senior Sourcing Analyst | Senior Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 7% | 7% |