How to hire an associate buyer

How to hire an associate buyer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate buyer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate buyer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate buyer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an associate buyer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the associate buyer you need to hire. Certain associate buyer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect associate buyer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents associate buyer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Associate Buyer	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Buyer	Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products.	$17-32
   Purchasing Agent	A purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection... Show more	$17-34
   Purchasing Supervisor	A purchasing supervisor orders supplies, equipment, and materials from vendors by buyers. The purchasing supervisors assess, select, and build relationships with the vendors... Show more	$21-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Purchase Orders
   • Math
   • Vendor Relations
   • Logistics
   • Market Trends
   • Strong Analytical
   • Kids
   • Business Strategies
   • Open-To-Buy
   • MRP
   • Apparel
   • Gross Margin
   • Supplier Performance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Define and manage sales, markdowns, inventories (OTB plans) achieving financial objectives for all years in position.
   • Manage numerous RFP processes for the non-technology services.
   • Support include identifying and qualifying vendors, manage process for select RFP's and assist with bid assessments.
   • Work closely with planner and buyer to manage OTB and determine when to maximize business and when to protect liabilities.
   • Manage and develop successful relationships with top luxury watch and jewelry brands.
   • Coordinate and provide direction to inventory teams by managing product placement, open-to-buy, and logistics.

   More associate buyer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate buyer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An associate buyer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, associate buyers' average salary in hawaii is 40% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate buyers 47% less than senior-level associate buyers.
   • Certifications. An associate buyer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an associate buyer's salary.

   Average associate buyer salary

   $49,963yearly

   $24.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate buyer salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average associate buyer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$63,122	$30
   2	Connecticut	$55,851	$27
   3	Illinois	$55,263	$27
   4	Pennsylvania	$54,892	$26
   5	Michigan	$54,098	$26
   6	Maryland	$52,056	$25
   7	Minnesota	$51,514	$25
   8	Nebraska	$51,233	$25
   9	Virginia	$51,164	$25
   10	Utah	$50,609	$24
   11	Nevada	$49,984	$24
   12	Massachusetts	$49,788	$24
   13	North Carolina	$49,740	$24
   14	Colorado	$49,692	$24
   15	California	$49,616	$24
   16	Wyoming	$48,458	$23
   17	Tennessee	$48,214	$23
   18	Wisconsin	$46,799	$23
   19	Georgia	$46,497	$22
   20	Ohio	$45,521	$22

   Average associate buyer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	VF	$79,468	$38.21
   2	Williams Sonoma	$69,015	$33.18	17
   3	Zumiez	$65,578	$31.53	2
   4	Cost Plus World Market	$64,271	$30.90	9
   5	Praxair	$64,018	$30.78
   6	Wpp Us Holdings Inc	$63,660	$30.61
   7	National Grid plc	$63,472	$30.52
   8	MTS Systems	$63,229	$30.40
   9	Gap Inc.	$62,868	$30.23
   10	Oshkosh	$61,049	$29.35	10
   11	Lucid Motors	$60,682	$29.17	2
   12	Calumet Specialty Products Partners	$60,233	$28.96
   13	Standard Motor Products	$58,881	$28.31	2
   14	Uline	$57,801	$27.79	8
   15	Eaton	$56,721	$27.27	4
   16	GroupM	$56,671	$27.25
   17	Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co	$55,994	$26.92	3
   18	Dahl Consulting	$55,988	$26.92	1
   19	PepsiCo	$55,785	$26.82	2
   20	Dover	$55,613	$26.74	7

4. Writing an associate buyer job description

   A job description for an associate buyer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an associate buyer job description:

   Associate buyer job description example

   Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy.
   
   CFS is collaborating with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with new groundbreaking high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. The mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. CFS has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by the world's leading investors, CFS is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. To execute this plan, we are looking to add talented people to the team who are mission-driven and treat people well, improve our team by adding diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems, have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits, and have skill sets and experience that relate to this role.
   
   This individual will support the business for procurement needs with light negotiations, PO issuance, invoice resolution, order follow up and data analytics.
   
   This team member will: Create error-free high volume (~40/day) purchase orders up to authorized limits for raw materials, parts, subassemblies, finished goods, equipment, tooling, supplies, and/or services from suppliers in support of internal customer requirements Review and negotiate standard contract terms, coordinate with legal counsel where necessary to finalize contracts and statements of work Identify the best value supplier by issuing requests for quote and analyzing responses from suppliers Set up terms and accounts with new suppliers and complete data entry necessary to onboard the supplier into CFS systems Review and manage open orders with suppliers to ensure product arrives as expected Resolve invoice issues and ensure that vendors are paid on time Adhere to all supply chain policies, procedures, guidelines and instructions including those regarding the procurement of materials, intellectual property, and export compliance Purchase from both MRP and project/purchase requests under departmental guidelines Provide constant, clear, and timely updates to internal customers
   The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements: 0-2 years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain or related role Experience with MS OfficeExceptional communications skills Strong relationship building skills Ability to prioritize and execute tasks IntegrityStrong Customer Service skills Remarkable problem-solving skills Works well under pressure Possesses excellent judgment
   Additional experience and/or qualifications:Bachelor's Degree preferred Typing speed of at least 70 wpm preferred Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs Perform activities such as sitting, typing, or standing for extended periods of time
   Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At CFS, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be just the right person for this or other roles.
   
   CFS team members thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits. We all tightly align with our company values of integrity, execution, impact and self-critique. As we grow, we are looking to add talented people who are mission driven and bring diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems.
   
   At CFS, we deeply value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find associate buyers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any associate buyers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level associate buyers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate buyer job on Zippia to find and recruit associate buyer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with associate buyer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate buyer

   Once you've selected the best associate buyer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new associate buyer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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