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The differences between senior sourcing specialists and procurement agents 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 a procurement agent. Additionally, a senior sourcing specialist has an average salary of $79,213, which is higher than the $72,384 average annual salary of a procurement agent.
The top three skills for a senior sourcing specialist include linkedin, HR and applicant tracking systems. The most important skills for a procurement agent are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and supplier performance.
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $79,213 | $72,384 |
| Hourly rate | $38.08 | $34.80 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 7,764 | 45,198 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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.
A procurement agent develops profitable measures to save the client money and ensure the quality of goods supplied. Procurement agents obtain the purchased items through suppliers, monitor them, and expedite the orders. They oversee the activities and performance of the suppliers for compliance. Their duties include the verification of item receipts, resolving shipment-related problems, and authorizing purchase payments through documentation. The necessary skills for this job include being accomplished, decisive, and strong communication skills.
Senior sourcing specialists and procurement agents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Average salary | $79,213 | $72,384 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $103,000 | Between $49,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | PayPal | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior sourcing specialist and a procurement agent in terms of educational background:
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior sourcing specialists' and procurement agents' demographics:
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Procurement Agent | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2% | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |