Business & Finance
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
Also called: Buyer, Contract Administrator (Contract Admin), Procurement and Contracting Administrator (Procurement and Contracting Admin), Procurement and Contracting Buyer
US median pay
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not published
Job growth 2025–35
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Openings a year (US)
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Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.
What they do day to day
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
- Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
- Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
- Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
- Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
- Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
- Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
- Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
- Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Negotiation4.2/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Persuasion3.8/5
- Management of Financial Resources3.8/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.2/5
- Management of Material Resources3.2/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.6/5
- Law and Government4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Administrative3.6/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree65%
- High school diploma15%
- Post-baccalaureate certificate10%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.