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The differences between supply chain project managers and purchasing managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a supply chain project manager and a purchasing manager. Additionally, a purchasing manager has an average salary of $98,118, which is higher than the $95,298 average annual salary of a supply chain project manager.
The top three skills for a supply chain project manager include supply chain, project management and supply chain planning. The most important skills for a purchasing manager are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and project management.
| Supply Chain Project Manager | Purchasing Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $95,298 | $98,118 |
| Hourly rate | $45.82 | $47.17 |
| Growth rate | - | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 82,193 | 30,430 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A supply chain project manager is responsible for monitoring the supply chain process, ensuring that the procedures adhere to the business functions and product deliverables. Supply chain project managers determine business improvement techniques, including the timely distribution of high-quality products and coordinating with suppliers and third-party vendors for inventories. They also negotiate business contracts and address customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the services of an organization. A supply chain project manager identifies the inconsistencies and faults in the supply chain cycle, developing opportunities to improve operations and achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
A purchasing manager is responsible for organizing and managing products to order or sell. Purchasing managers review product specifications, negotiate pricing details with the vendors, evaluate and choose the best suppliers, and assist purchasing agents. Purchase managers are also responsible for resolving order processing issues and analyzing current market trends to determine which products to purchase. A purchasing manager must have excellent decision-making and strategical skills to examine effects, inspect defective items, and create an in-depth analysis of customers' needs to improve their performance and sales.
Supply chain project managers and purchasing managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Chain Project Manager | Purchasing Manager | |
| Average salary | $95,298 | $98,118 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $129,000 | Between $70,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Apple | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a supply chain project manager and a purchasing manager in terms of educational background:
| Supply Chain Project Manager | Purchasing Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between supply chain project managers' and purchasing managers' demographics:
| Supply Chain Project Manager | Purchasing Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4% | Male, 67.0% Female, 33.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |