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The differences between senior sourcing specialists and purchasing supervisors 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 purchasing supervisor. Additionally, a senior sourcing specialist has an average salary of $79,213, which is higher than the $68,702 average annual salary of a purchasing supervisor.
The top three skills for a senior sourcing specialist include linkedin, HR and applicant tracking systems. The most important skills for a purchasing supervisor are purchase orders, MRP, and supplier performance.
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $79,213 | $68,702 |
| Hourly rate | $38.08 | $33.03 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 7,764 | 19,412 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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 purchasing supervisor orders supplies, equipment, and materials from vendors by buyers. The purchasing supervisors assess, select, and build relationships with the vendors. They do the negotiation for the contracts of goods and services. It is their job to review the purchase orders for accuracy and ensure to obtain the best prices. The skills supervisors need to develop include marketing, communication, leadership, and management. They should also know about purchasing products and services.
Senior sourcing specialists and purchasing supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $79,213 | $68,702 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $103,000 | Between $45,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | PayPal | CDW |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior sourcing specialist and a purchasing supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior sourcing specialists' and purchasing supervisors' demographics:
| Senior Sourcing Specialist | Purchasing Supervisor | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2% | Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |