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Technical buyer vs purchasing manager

The differences between technical buyers 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 technical buyer and a purchasing manager. Additionally, a purchasing manager has an average salary of $98,118, which is higher than the $60,382 average annual salary of a technical buyer.

The top three skills for a technical buyer include purchase orders, supplier performance and strategic sourcing. The most important skills for a purchasing manager are supply chain, strategic sourcing, and project management.

Technical buyer vs purchasing manager overview

Technical BuyerPurchasing Manager
Yearly salary$60,382$98,118
Hourly rate$29.03$47.17
Growth rate--6%
Number of jobs79,68630,430
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4847
Years of experience66

What does a technical buyer do?

Technical Buyers are tasked with managing several materials, products, or services to promote the business. They must be in touch with the stakeholder because he/she is tasked with the high screening and contracting with the suppliers.

What does a purchasing manager do?

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.

Technical buyer vs purchasing manager salary

Technical buyers and purchasing managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Technical BuyerPurchasing Manager
Average salary$60,382$98,118
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $81,000Between $70,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CityGermantown, MDRichmond, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandMaine
Best paying companyCME GroupMcKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between technical buyer and purchasing manager education

There are a few differences between a technical buyer and a purchasing manager in terms of educational background:

Technical BuyerPurchasing Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Technical buyer vs purchasing manager demographics

Here are the differences between technical buyers' and purchasing managers' demographics:

Technical BuyerPurchasing Manager
Average age4847
Gender ratioMale, 62.5% Female, 37.5%Male, 67.0% Female, 33.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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 Percentage7%11%

Differences between technical buyer and purchasing manager duties and responsibilities

Technical buyer example responsibilities.

  • Manage assign plastics, metals and electronic commodities, to ensure quality, quantity and delivery standards are attain.
  • Support cross-region store openings and manage various procurement programs including hardware and POS systems.
  • Manage activities of purchasing, production planning and scheduling, inventory management, warehousing and logistics.
  • Develop RFP's and RFI's to leverage buying power with vendors.
  • Source suppliers and material, create RFQ's, and drive cost savings initiatives.
  • Utilize the Lawson ERP system for procurement.
    • Show more

Purchasing manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage payroll and accounts payable.
  • Lead major purchasing projects for automotive OEM vehicles.
  • Used RFI, RFP, RFQ techniques to identify, select, and engage with suppliers to ensure competitive market advantage.
  • Establish an integrate MRO supply program which eliminate specific company manage buying, inventory control and warehousing functions.
  • Manage all procurement activities to support manufacturing operations including raw materials, tooling, components and MRO services.
  • Manage several indirect sourcing RFP projects including categories for translation services, payroll services, capital equipment and engineering services.
    • Show more

Technical buyer vs purchasing manager skills

Common technical buyer skills
  • Purchase Orders, 14%
  • Supplier Performance, 10%
  • Strategic Sourcing, 5%
  • Vendor Relationships, 5%
  • POS, 4%
  • ERP, 4%
Common purchasing manager skills
  • Supply Chain, 15%
  • Strategic Sourcing, 7%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Supplier Performance, 5%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%
  • Purchase Orders, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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