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The differences between senior sourcing specialists and acquisition 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 sourcing specialist and an acquisition specialist. Additionally, a senior sourcing specialist has an average salary of $79,213, which is higher than the $65,906 average annual salary of an acquisition specialist.
The top three skills for a senior sourcing specialist include linkedin, HR and applicant tracking systems. The most important skills for an acquisition specialist are program management, market research, and DOD.
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $79,213 | $65,906 |
| Hourly rate | $38.08 | $31.69 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 7,764 | 17,543 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The job of a senior sourcing specialist is to help companies implement more effective processes and systems to reduce costs and increase profitability. You will be responsible for negotiating with suppliers to procure materials, products, and services at the best possible price using your in-depth knowledge of their industry and strategic sourcing strategies. As a senior source specialist, you are expected to develop and implement inventory optimization strategies across the company. You will also need to find or develop solutions to improve company outsourcing and spending.
An acquisition specialist is in charge of developing strategies to acquire goods and services on behalf of a company. Their responsibilities include coordinating with different departments to gather data, conducting extensive research and analysis to find cost-efficient materials and resources, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, negotiating contracts, and arranging payment plans. Furthermore, an acquisition specialist may also participate in a company's employment procedures and recruit potential employees in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
Senior sourcing specialists and acquisition specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Average salary | $79,213 | $65,906 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $103,000 | Between $43,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior sourcing specialist and an acquisition specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior sourcing specialists' and acquisition specialists' demographics:
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2% | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.9% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |